MELBOURNE, Australia — Ana Ivanovic was concerned when she heard a loud noise as a spectator fell on some stairs at Rod Laver Arena, an accident that delayed her second-round match for almost a half hour at the Australian Open.
The 2008 finalist was leading qualifier Anastasija Sevastova 4-3 in the first set when medical personnel rushed to the woman's aid in the upper level of the 15,000-seat stadium. The players stayed on the court during the break, getting regular updates from tournament officials, before Ivanovic returned to win 6-3, 6-3.
"First I felt really bad. I was really shaking, because the sound of the lady falling was really loud," she said.