Murray advances, Ivanovic loses amid medical distraction at Australian Open

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2016/01/23/b36c6ad4-c201-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html

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MELBOURNE, Australia — A medical emergency overshadowed matches on adjoining courts at the Australian Open when Nigel Sears, who is Ana Ivanovic’s coach and Andy Murray’s father-in-law, was rushed to a hospital while both of their third-round matches were in progress.

Four-time finalist Murray beat No. 32 Joao Sousa, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2, but skipped the on-court interview before leaving Margaret Court Arena on Saturday night to check on the welfare of Sears, the father of his pregnant wife, Kim.

Ivanovic was leading Madison Keys, 6-4, 1-0, when her match was stopped. She could be seen saying “That’s my coach,” before both players left the court.

The 2008 finalist lost, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, to No. 15-seeded Keys.

Stadium announcer Craig Willis told the Rod Laver Arena crowd: “Nigel Sears had a turn, as we all saw. He’s in the hospital cracking . . . jokes. He’s okay.”

Murray’s match wasn’t stopped, but word filtered through. Murray’s next match is scheduled for Monday against No. 16-seeded Bernard Tomic.

Earlier, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka beat qualifier Naomi Osaka, 6-1, 6-1. Azarenka is emerging as a favorite in the bottom half of the draw after No. 2 Simona Halep went out in the first round and No. 3 Garbine Muguruza fell in the third.

Azarenka will next play No. 48-ranked Barbora Strycova, who upset Muguruza, 6-3, 6-2.

Johanna Konta became the first British woman to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open since 1987 when she beat Denisa Allertova, 6-2, 6-2. Her next match is against 2015 semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova, who ousted No. 9 Karolina Pliskova.

Muguruza’s loss left No. 7 Angelique Kerber as the highest-ranked player in the bottom half of the women’s draw. Kerber beat Madison Brengle, 6-1, 6-3, to move into a fourth-round match against Annika Beck.

Stan Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian and 2015 French Open champion, advanced past Lukas Rosol, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

No. 8-seeded David Ferrer overwhelmed Steve Johnson, 6-1, 6-4, 6-4, and set up a meeting with No. 10-seeded John Isner, who defeated Feliciano Lopez, 6-7 (8-10), 7-6 (7-5), 6-2, 6-4.

— Associated Press