MELBOURNE: Ana Ivanovic has lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to Madison Keys under difficult circumstances in a third-round match that was suspended for nearly an hour while her coach, Nigel Sears, was taken to hospital early in the second set at Rod Laver Arena.

The match was stopped at 1-0 in the second set when reports said Sears, father of Kim Sears, who is married to Andy Murray, slipped or fell on stairs near the coach's box.

It was not known if Murray was aware of his father-in-law's health issues while winning a match against Joao Sousa at nearby Margaret Court Arena, although he did not wait for the usual TV interview on court after the match. Media reports said he left Melbourne Park immediately after the match.

Ivanovic led 3-0 in the final set before allowing Keys to come back to win the match.