Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud has declared his readiness to abandon the Australian summer of tennis at a moment's notice for a profoundly personal reason: the imminent birth of his first child.
Family Comes Before Tennis
The world No.12, currently competing at the Auckland Open in New Zealand, confirmed his partner Maria is in the final weeks of her pregnancy back home in Norway. Ruud, a three-time grand slam finalist, is adamant about maintaining a 'family first' mantra as he juggles professional ambitions with impending fatherhood.
"Honestly, she (the baby) can come any time now," Ruud stated in Auckland. "So hopefully I get to stay for the rest of the tournament, but you never know. I might get a call and be on the plane back home out of here."
He acknowledged the logistical challenge, with commercial flights from Auckland or Melbourne to Norway taking well over a day. However, with over $AU40 million in career prize money, the option of a private jet remains a possibility to ensure he is present for the birth.
This major life event will be followed later in 2026 by the couple's wedding, which has been nearly two years in the planning.
Balancing Ambition with New Priorities
Ruud's declaration comes as he seeks to rebuild momentum after falling out of the world's top five last year. His 2025 season included a second-round exit at the Australian Open, with identical early departures at the French and US Opens, while he skipped Wimbledon.
Despite those setbacks, he showed flashes of his best form, reaching finals on the hard courts of Dallas and Stockholm, where he was crowned champion. He also secured the most significant title of his career on the red clay at the Madrid Masters.
"It will be a really fun year, but if we put those (family) things aside and think about tennis I think it can be an exciting year," Ruud reflected. "Last season was in a way not what I was hoping for but at the same time I really played some good tennis."
Adapting to Tennis's New Generation
Having been beaten in French Open finals by legends Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, and in a US Open final by young phenom Carlos Alcaraz, Ruud has a unique perspective on the tour's evolution. He notes the distinct challenge posed by the sport's rising stars.
"There are a lot of young guys these days that are coming and playing a different type of tennis to when I came on tour myself," he observed. "They really rip the ball and play a little bit of a different style... something I've needed to get used to."
He pointed to his recent loss to 20-year-old Jakub Mensik at the United Cup as a prime example. "He has a great serve, hits the backend hard from both sides and you see it more and more," Ruud said. This has prompted self-reflection: "Seeing how the game has changed has made me realise that maybe I need to change my game a little."
Despite recently turning 27, Ruud believes his best years are still ahead. "I hope I'm entering my prime from being around 26, 27 to 32, 33," he said, expressing a desire for longevity. "I have achieved some big things but there are still many more things I wish to achieve."
For now, however, his immediate focus is split between the baseline and the delivery room, ready to trade his tennis racquet for a plane ticket the moment he receives the most important call of his life.
