Casper Ruud is poised to return to the tennis court for his first match since embracing fatherhood, as he faces Marcos Giron in the last-16 of the Delray Beach Open. Following the recent birth of his daughter, Ruud is eager to add the tournament trophy to his accomplishments while looking forward to balancing his burgeoning role as a parent with his professional career.
Ruud has started the year on a high note personally, welcoming his daughter, which he describes as an emotional experience. “It was an incredibly emotional moment,” Ruud expressed. “For anyone who has become a parent, it’s an incredible feeling and hard to explain with words.” This pivotal moment in his life comes amid a challenging start to the tennis season, where he represented Norway in the United Cup before competing in the Australian Open. Despite his efforts, he was eliminated in the last-16 round by Ben Shelton.
After stepping away from the court following his daughter’s birth, Ruud opted out of the Dallas Open to focus on family. Now, as he prepares for the Delray Beach Open, he reflects on the challenges of leaving his child for the first time. “It will be a tough trip… I will miss them and at times feel homesick,” he admitted. Ruud is determined to channel this new chapter in his life as motivation to perform well in the upcoming hard-court swing, leading into the clay season.
Following Delray Beach, Ruud will head to the ATP 500 tournament in Acapulco, with aspirations of competing in the Masters 1000 events at Indian Wells and Miami. He aims to not only secure wins for himself but to embody the spirit of a dedicated father throughout his matches, stating, “To win some matches and see if I can play for more than myself.”
As the tournament unfolds, Ruud, the number two seed, anticipates a tough match against Giron. Should he advance, he may encounter rising talents like Alex Michelson or Sebastian Korda in the semi-finals. With formidable competitors such as Taylor Fritz and Flavio Cobolli also in the mix, Ruud is ready to embrace the challenges ahead, confident that his skills remain sharp despite his time away from professional play.
This new chapter in Ruud’s life not only highlights the joys of fatherhood but also the balancing act he faces as a professional athlete. With determination and a fresh outlook, he looks forward to making both his family and fans proud on the court.