MELBOURNE: World number two Andy Murray beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa in four sets to reach the Australian Open fourth round on Saturday, apparently unaware of a medical drama involving his father-in-law on the adjacent court.
The four-time finalist wore down the 33rd-ranked Sousa to win 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours, 38 minutes, while Nigel Sears, father of his heavily pregnant wife, Kim, needed emergency medical treatment.
Sears who is also the coach of Ana Ivanovic, was treated by medics on a stairway and Ivanovic’s match with Madison Keys on Rod Laver Arena was suspended for almost an hour before resuming.
The 58-year-old was later stretchered away and taken by ambulance to hospital and was said to be in a conscious state.
Murray will play the winner of the all-Australian clash between Bernard Tomic and John Millman in the fourth round.
The Scot left the Margaret Court Arena without doing the usual post-match on-court interview and it was announced he would not be doing a press conference. Witnesses said he was met by his mother Judy upon leaving the court.
He later released some comments about his match, saying he had struggled to put away the tigerish Sousa.
