Ana Ivanovic's coach, Nigel Sears, has been taken to hospital after collapsing in the stands during the Serbian's match against Maddison Keys at Rod Laver Arena on Saturday evening.

Paramedics attended to Sears for at least 30 minutes, before he was eventually taken out of the stadium on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

Ivanovic lead 1-0 in the second set after the taking the first 6-4 when the incident occurred. Keys eventually won the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, coming back from 3-0 down in the third set.

The No.20 seed at this year's Australian Open was visibly shaken as players sat and waited courtside, as play was suspended indefinitely.

Sears, is also the father-in-law of world No.2 Andy Murray.

The players eventually returned to the court almost an hour later to resume the match, with news coming through that Sears was conscious and talking.

Both players were consulted about resuming the match before returning to the court given the distressing circumstances surrounding the match.