British No1 Seed Andy Murray's father-in-law collapse during Australian Opening Match

Andy Murray's father-in-law Nigel Sears collapsed while watching the Australian Open match between Ana Ivanovic and Madison Keys on Saturday.

The British coach of Ivanovic was treated by paramedics in the stands before being carried out of the Rod Laver Arena on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask.

Sears was conscious and alert as he was taken to hospital in Melbourne, with the match resuming in the second set after a 50-minute delay.

Murray, whose wife Kim is due to give birth to their first child next month, was playing at the same time on a neighbouring court but was unaware of the incident.

Medical staff quickly arrived on the scene and the players remained courtside for around 10 minutes before being told to head to the locker room as the match was suspended indefinitely.

Sears was stretchered away with his shirt off and attached to an oxygen tank, but he is understood to have been conscious and alert as he was taken to hospital.

Ivanovic warmed up in an underground car park and play resumed almost an hour after being suspended.

Ivanovic was given the option of stopping play but wanted to continue. Murray was playing his third-round match on the neighbouring Margaret Court Arena at the same time but was unaware of the news.

Sears' daughter Kim, the wife of Murray, is currently in the UK ahead of the birth of her first child, which is due next month.

It is the second time in three days that Ivanovic's match has been stopped. Her second-round match on Thursday was suspended for around 30 minutes after a spectator fell in the stands.

Sussex-based Sears, 58, is one of the best known coaches in the UK and has been Captain in the past of the British Fed Cup team, the equivalent of the Davis Cup for women.

He is in his second spell working with former French Open champion Ivanovic, who is the partner of footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Sears has an impressive CV that has seen him work with other top female players like South African Amada Coetzer and Daniela Hantuchova of the Czech Republic.

ESPN’s Pam Shriver reported that he was taken away with a defibrillator in use, and she also said that there was some blood on the stairs where he fell.