Casper Ruud has confirmed he stands prepared to abandon the Australian Open at a moment's notice should his wife Maria Galligani begin labour with their first child.
The Norwegian, seeded 12th in Melbourne, secured a comfortable opening victory against Mattia Bellucci on Margaret Court Arena and will face Jaume Munar in the second round on Wednesday.
However, the 27-year-old revealed his mobile phone remains switched to audible alerts around the clock, with the sole exception being when he steps onto court.
The couple, who announced they were expecting a baby girl back in September, are anticipating the arrival imminently, with Galligani currently resting at home in Norway.
Speaking after his first-round triumph, Ruud expressed gratitude towards his wife for permitting him to travel to Australia while she prepares for the birth.
"It's an interesting situation. I mean, I have to thank Maria for letting me go [to Australia] in the first place," he said.
"I know she's back home resting, getting ready."
The three-time Grand Slam finalist explained his approach to maintaining concentration during competition: "When I'm out here, I'm strictly focused on tennis.
"I went on court knowing nothing had happened, so I could focus."
Looking ahead, Ruud added: "Knock knock, hopefully I can get to finish and play my matches with everything going well at home, and when I come back when I'll be back next year [for the 2027 Australian Open] I'll be a father."
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes hit back at Man Utd star after being called out following Man City win
- John McEnroe raises major worry over Novak Djokovic at Australian Open: 'That is the reality'
- Luke Littler faces new challenge as PDC confirms controversial rule change following World Darts
Prior to the tournament commencing, Ruud told the ATP Tour that both he and Maria were "really excited" about becoming parents, outlining his intention to have his daughter accompany him on the professional circuit.
"I look forward to hopefully becoming a good parent," he said.
"Even though this life requires a lot of time, a lot of energy and a lot of travel and these things, I look forward to trying to be there as much as I can."
The Oslo native expressed his desire to travel as a family unit to events where practical, acknowledging a fundamental shift in his motivation.
"I'm not just doing this for myself anymore, and I have someone extra to play for," Ruud said.
Ruud and Galligani tied the knot recently, with reports suggesting a ceremony took place at Oslo City Hall in December.
His manager Tina Falster confirmed to Norwegian outlet TV 2 that the pair had formally married, though she noted the couple wished to keep the matter private as a larger wedding celebration would follow at a later date.
The couple became engaged in 2024 after going public with their relationship six years earlier.
Against Munar, the world number 39, Ruud boasts a strong head-to-head record of five victories from six encounters.
Nevertheless, Melbourne has proved troublesome territory for the Norwegian, who has suffered three second-round exits at this tournament, including last year's defeat to Czech teenager Jakub Mensik.
Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
from GB News https://ift.tt/wFArN0n
via IFTTT
Thank you for your message!