Murray, Stan fight through on day of offcourt drama

Melbourne, The Australian Open was rocked late on Saturday when Andy Murray’s father-in-law Nigel Sears collapsed during a match at Rod Laver Arena, overshadowing the world No. 2’s advance to the fourth round.
Sears, the coach of former French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, collapsed while watching the Serb’s third-round clash against Madison Keys, prompting medical staff to rush to the 58-year-old’s aid. Adding to the surreal atmosphere at Melbourne Park, Briton Murray was oblivious to the unfolding drama as he battled Portugal’s Joao Sousa in the neighbouring Margaret Court Arena. Play was suspended for an hour at Rod Laver Arena, as Sears received treatment before being fitted with breathing apparatus and carried from the stadium on a stretcher.
He was taken to a hospital for further treatment and was being examined by a cardiologist, organisers said.
A teary-eyed Ivanovic was eventually led back to centre court to continue her match against Keys and although the Serb fought hard she fell 4-6 6-4 6-4.
Murray, whose wife Kim Sears is due to give birth to their first child next month, completed a 6-2 3-6 6-2 6-2 win over 32nd seed Sousa. Murray also skipped the post-match media conference.
In an unnerving coincidence, Ivanovic’s second round match was also suspended after a spectator fell down the stairs at the same show court on Thursday.
The medical emergency overshadowed the action on Day 6, which saw Spanish third seed Garbine Muguruza dumped out at the hands of unseeded Czech Barbora Strycova, her 6-3 6-2 loss punching a hole in the draw.
Victoria Azarenka beat Japanese qualifier Naomi Osaka 6-1 6-1. The 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka also reached the last 16, staying on track for a blockbuster semifinal against Murray. Following Roger Federer’s 300th victory in Grand Slams on Day 5 and Maria Sharapova’s 600th on tour, Wawrinka notched his 400th career win with a triumph over Czech Lukas Rosol 6-2 6-3 7-6(3). — Reuters
Highlights day 6
Sania in pre-quarters
Sania Mirza continued her rampaging run, advancing to the pre- quarterfinals of both the women’s and mixed doubles. In the women’s doubles, Sania and Martina Hingis sailed past the Ukrainian duo of Lyudmyla Kichenok and Nadiia Kichenok 6-2 6-3. In the mixed event, Sania and Ivan Dodig got the better of Australians Ajla Tomljanovic and Nick Kyrgios 7-5 6-1.
Zhang fairytale continues
Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai, who had never won a Grand Slam match in 14 attempts coming into this tournament, reached the fourth round with a 6-2 6-3 victory over American Varvara Lepchenko. “Amazing tournament,” she said. “I can’t think too much, I can only think about the next point because I can never believed I’d win in the third round.”
Isner’s 100 aces
John Isner sent down 44 aces as he came from behind to beat Feliciano Lopez 6-7(8) 7-6(5) 6-2 6-4. The 10th seed has served up 101 aces so far.
Tomic downs Millman
Bernard Tomic, the 16th seed, completed the fourth round lineup after beating fellow Australian John Millman 6-4 7-6(4) 6-2.