23/01/2016

Andy Murray dashes from court to hospital after Australian Open win to see his father-in-law who collapsed

At the moment, Murray's camp is not expecting the world No 2 to pull out of the tournament after Nigel Sears was hospitalised


Andy Murray won through to the fourth round of the Australian Open today – and then immediately dashed to hospital to see his ill father-in-law , writes Neil Mcleman in Melbourne.

The British No 1 completed his match against Joao Sousa and was told the news by his mother Judy after he came off court. He immediately left for nearly Epworth Hospital to see Nigel.
Sears, 58, had an ECG in the ambulance – then another on his arrival at the hospital.
Murray has pledged to return home from the first Grand Slam of the season if his pregnant wife Kim goes into labour early. The Scot is due to play his next match – against Australians Bernard Tomic or John Millman – on Monday.
GettyBritain's Andy Murray celebrates after victory in his men's singles match against Portugal's Joao Sousa
He's through: Britain's Andy Murray celebrates after victory in his men's singles match against Portugal's Joao Sousa
At the moment, Murray's camp is not expecting the world No 2 to pull out of the tournament.
Davis Cup captain Leon Smith, who was in Murray's player's box during the match, said: “I don't know the extent of what it is. If he is absolutely fine, it will be business of usual. But obviously he needs to find out exactly what happened.”
Murray, who won 6-2 3-6 6-2 6-2, said: “I thought I struggled. At the beginning I think he was extremely aggressive, very intense.
GettyBritain's Andy Murray shakes hands as he celebrates after victory in his men's singles match against Portugal's Joao Sousa
The handshake: Murray and Sousa at the end of the match
“You know, so he was getting into position to dictate a lot of points with his forehand. Once I started to hit the ball a little bit cleaner towards the end of the match I was able to get him in his backhand corner and dictate more of the points.
"It was tricky. I didn't feel great. You know, the match against Groth, though I returned well; I didn't get to hit that many groundstrokes; didn't feel I was in a great rhythm; wasn't hitting the ball clean at the start.
“He was hitting the ball great, close to the lines, and making me do a lot of running.
“I just tried to keep fighting. At the end I was actually hitting the ball well and felt better at the end. It was good to get through that one.”
Before Sears was taken to hospital, Andy's brother Jamie Murray reported that he was “conscious, talking, sitting up.”
Epworth Hospital, where Fred Perry died in 1995, is only five minutes away from Melbourne Park. A hospital spokesman said Sears' condition was “stable”.
ReutersAna Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapses at the Australian Open
Nigel Sears collapsed court side in Melbourne
ReutersAna Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapses at the Australian Open
Ana Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapsed on the stairs
Sears, the coach to former world No 1 Ana Ivanovic, was watching his player take on American Madison Keys.
The incident happened after 37 minutes of the match in the second set.
Ivanovic and Keys waited on court for around 10 minutes before they were informed play was suspended and left the arena.
ReutersAna Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapses at the Australian Open
The players walked off the court after the incident
ReutersAna Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapses at the Australian Open
Medical staff fetch the stretcher after Sears collapsed
After a 50-minute break, the players re-emerged and the match was resumed with Keys trailing 6-4 1-0.
GettyAna Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapses at the Australian Open
Ana Ivanovic looks concerned after her coach Nigel Sears collapsed courtside
Ivanovic, who was a set and a game up when Sears collapsed, is out of the tournament.
She lost 4-6 6-4 6-4 to Madison Keys. No press conference has yet been announced and it's not clear if she will speak.
Former pro Pam Shriver reported on ESPN that Ivanovic was aware of Nigel having similar previous episodes and both players were given option to further delay or cancel the match.
GettyAna Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapses at the Australian Open
Staff rush to Nigel's aid
GettyAna Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapses at the Australian Open
Before he was carried off on a stretcher
GettyAna Ivanovic's coach Nigel Sears collapses at the Australian Open
Former world No 1 Ivanovic, who won the 2008 French Open, is the girlfriend of Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.
AFPManchester United's German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (R) and his girlfriend, tennis player Ana Ivanovic pose for pictures on the red carpet as they arrive to attend the "United for UNICEF Gala Dinner"
Manchester United's German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (R) and his girlfriend, tennis player Ana Ivanovic
She first worked with Sears between 2011-13 – and then hired him again last summer after losing in the second round of Wimbledon.
Sears, 58, is a former player who started coaching Daniela Hantuchova in 2001 and also worked with Amanda Coetzee.
GettyNigel Sears watches Ana Ivanovic of Serbia play Marion Bartoli of France
Sears first worked with Ivanovic between 2011-13 – and then returned to her team again last summer
A statement from the Australian Open organisers confirmed the news.
"A male in his 50s fell ill in Rod Laver Arena this evening. He was transported to hospital by ambulance.
"The match was suspended and the players updated on his condition. The players had the opportunity to consult with their teams and then went back on court.
"The players returned to the court at 8.40 pm."
GettyKim Murray and her brother Junior Under Officer Scott Sears pose for a photographer with their parents Leonore Sears and Nigel Sears
Nigel Sears (R) with his wife Leonore, daugher Kim and her brother Junior Under Officer Scott

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