Casper Ruud won’t be hanging around in Melbourne after his loss to Ben Shelton in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Monday night. The World No.13 and three-time grand slam finalist lost 6-3 4-6 3-6 4-6 to his American opponent, with Shelton advancing to the quarter-finals.
And while Ruud will be disappointed, he’ll likely feel a sense of relief that he gets to reunite with pregnant fiancee Maria Galligani at home in Norway. Ruud had flagged at the start of the tournament that he was prepared to quit the Australian Open and fly home immediately if Galligani looked like giving birth.
Casper Ruud’s loss to Ben Shelton (L) means he should be back home in time for the birth of his first child with fiancee Maria Gallignani (R). Image: AAP/Getty
The Norwegian said he’d withdraw from the tournament (no matter what stage he was at) to be by his heavily-pregnant partner’s side for the birth of their first child. On Monday night he avoided having to make the tricky decision after Shelton ended his campaign in four sets.
Tellingly, Ruud didn’t appear to conduct the usual post-match press conference after the late-night finish. The rules state that all players have to front the media after matches at the Australian Open, but officials likely gave him a pass so he could catch an immediate flight home or get some rest for an early exit on Tuesday morning.
Casper Ruud and Maria Galligani are expecting their first child. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
(Getty Images)Casper Ruud was prepared to quit Australian Open for fiancee
Ruud said last week: “She’s due later in the tournament, so we’ll see. It’s not until the final weekend of the tournament, the due date. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll make it there but you never know, she can come earlier. If I get the call, if she goes into labour I’ll jump on the first flight home for sure.”
Ruud made the French Open final in 2022 and 2023, and the US Open final in 2022, so there was every chance he’d still be in Australia on the final weekend of the tournament. But Ruud and Galligani are probably thankful he didn’t have to make a difficult call to quit.
“I have to thank Maria for letting me go in the first place. I know she’s at home resting, getting ready,” he said after his win in the second round.
“Except for when I’m playing a match, the ringer (phone) is on all hours of the day just in case. There’s more to life than just tennis, but I’m going to be here for as long as I can and as long as Maria lets me.”
On Monday night, tennis fans were sad that Ruud had lost, but happy he’ll likely get to be at the birth.