Tennis coach Nigel Sears doing better after health scare
MELBOURNE, Australia – Nigel Sears, coach to Ana Ivanovic and father in law of Andy Murray, said Sunday in a statement that he expected to be released from the hospital and head home to Great Britain in the next 48 hours.
Sears, 58, collapsed Saturday night in a frightening and bizarre episode at the start of the second set in Ivanovic’s match with American Madison Keys inside Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open. The match was delayed for 45 minutes while Sears was attended to, with the players given the option as to whether or not they wanted to continue.
Keys and Ivanovic chose to go back on court, the American winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the fourth round.
Sears’ daughter Kim is married to Murray, who was playing on the court adjacent to Rod Laver Arena Saturday night. Both Murray and Ivanovic rushed to the hospital to be at Sears’ side after their respective matches.
"My medical advice is that I will be allowed to leave the hospital shortly and I have been cleared to fly back to the UK in the next day or so," Sears said in a statement released by Tennis Australia.
"I just wanted to express my sincerest thanks to the incredible people who came to my aid, as well as the brilliant staff both at the Australian Open and the Epworth Hospital,” the statement continued. “I feel truly grateful to everyone involved for the manner in which this has been handled. While I appreciate the level of media interest in this story I would prefer not to comment any further, thanks.”
Neither Ivanovic nor Keys commented on the situation Saturday night, both issuing statements via the tournament. Murray did the same, having not known of Sears’ collapsed until after his match, when his mother Judy, a tennis coach herself, met him in the hallway. Murray was back on the practice court at Melbourne Park on Sunday afternoon, due to play Monday in the fourth round against Australian Bernard Tomic.
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley wished Sears all the best in his recovery.
"All of the tennis family is both relieved and pleased to hear that Nigel is being released from hospital,” Tiley said in the statement. “We wish him well and hope to see him back on the court soon.”
PHOTOS: Best of the Australian Open