Melbourne: Andy Murray advanced to the fourth round and left the court immediately to check on the welfare of his father-in-law, who needed urgent medical treatment while watching Ana Ivanovic play on a nearby court at the Australian Open.
Four-time finalist Murray had a 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 32 Joao Sousa on Saturday night and signed a few autographs but skipped the usual on-court interview before leaving Margaret Court Arena.
Nigel Sears, father of Murray’s pregnant wife, Kim, coaches Ivanovic and was working in that capacity at Rod Laver Arena when he became ill after the first set, needed treatment and was taken to a nearby hospital.
Ivanovic was leading Madison Keys 6-4, 1-0 before an almost one-hour delay. She knew it was Sears getting treatment before the players left the court for the match suspension. She returned to go up a break, but Keys levelled the match and then, after going down another break, won five straight games on the way to clinching a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win.
Ivanovic and Keys left the court without commenting, although a stadium announcer assured the crowd that Sears was OK, and had asked for a TV to be wheeled into his hospital room to watch the end of the match.
Ivanovic’s second-round match had also been suspended when a woman fell down a set of stairs in the upper level of the same stadium.
Earlier, two-time champion Victoria Azarenka dropped her opening service game without winning a point, but recovered quickly to beat Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka 6-1, 6-1 win in 56 minutes. Azarenka will next play No. 48-ranked Barbora Strycova, who upset 2015 Wimbledon finalist Muguruza 6-3, 6-2.
“I will enjoy myself first because I beat No. 3 in the world,” Strycova said.
Sydney-born 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 had a 6-3, 6-2 win over 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 fellow German Annika Beck and a potential quarterfinal with Azarenka.
No. 8-seeded David Ferrer overwhelmed Steve Johnson 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 and to set up a meeting with another American in the next round. No. 10-seeded John Isner, who fired 44 aces as he advanced with a 6-7 (8), 7-6 (5), 6-2, 6-4 win over Feliciano Lopez.
Results
Men’s singles
Third round
Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) bt Dudi Sela (ISR) 7-5, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4)
Gael Monfils (FRA x23) bt Stephane Robert (FRA) 7-5, 6-3, 6-2
Milos Raonic (CAN x13) bt Viktor Troicki (SRB x21) 6-2, 6-3, 6-4
Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x4) bt Lukas Rosol (CZE) 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3)
David Ferrer (ESP x8) bt Steve Johnson (USA x31) 6-1, 6-4, 6-4
John Isner (USA x10) bt Feliciano Lopez (ESP x18) 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-4
Andy Murray (GBR) bt Joao Sousa (POR) 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2
Women’s singles
Third round
Angelique Kerber (GER x7) bt Madison Brengle (USA) 6-1, 6-3
Annika Beck (GER) bt Laura Siegemund (GER) 6-0, 6-4
Victoria Azarenka (BLR x14) bt Naomi Osaka (JPN) 6-1, 6-1
Barbora Strycova (CZE) bt Garbine Muguruza (ESP x3) 6-3, 6-2
Johanna Konta (GBR) bt Denisa Allertova (CZE) 6-2, 6-2
Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x21) bt Karolina Pliskova (CZE x9) 6-3, 6-2
Madison Keys (USA x15) bt Ana Ivanovic (SRB x20) 4-6, 6-4, 6-4