Casper Ruud Inspired by Fatherhood After Making his Return to the Tour

Casper Ruud makes his return at the Delray Beach, just weeks after welcoming his daughter.

Casper Ruud Inspired by Fatherhood After Making his Return to the Tour

Casper Ruud and Maria Galligani (Image via Instagram/Casper Ruud)

In Short
  • Casper Ruud returns to the tour after welcoming his daughter, balancing fatherhood with professional tennis.
  • He aims to prepare for the upcoming "Sunshine Double" and the European clay season, focusing on legacy rather than rankings.
  • Ruud's upcoming match against Marcos Giron will reveal his physical and mental readiness post-fatherhood.

Most new fathers are busy figuring out how to install a car seat or catching a twenty-minute nap while the baby sleeps. However, Casper Ruud is lacing up his sneakers in the Florida heat, ready to grind out baseline rallies against the world’s best.

The Delray Beach Open 2026 isn’t just another stop on the tour for the Norwegian star. It’s a statement. Just weeks after welcoming his daughter with his fiancée Maria back in Norway, the former World No. 2 is back on the job. It’s a quick turnaround that has the tennis world buzzing—is it too soon, or is this exactly the kind of “new dad strength” that fuels champions? Ruud said on the Nothing Major show:

After a few days at home with the new arrival, now it’s time to get back to work to feed her! No match or tournament can compare to the experience of witnessing the birth of your daughter. It was a beautiful moment, emotional, and also a huge relief that everything went well. More nervous in a Grand Slam final or when holding a baby in your arms? I’d say the second one, but I’ve improved my technique for holding her and she’s very good.

Currently ranked No. 12, Ruud finds himself in a unique headspace. He told reporters that fatherhood was “an incredibly emotional moment,” noting that the perspective shift was immediate. He’s no longer just playing for ranking points or prize money; he’s playing for a legacy.

The grind leading to the clay season

So, what is the strategy here? Why fly across the Atlantic when one has a newborn at home? It’s all about the calendar.

Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud (Image via X/Jose Morgado)

The “Sunshine Double”—Indian Wells and Miami—is looming. Casper Ruud can’t just walk into a Masters 1000 event cold, especially after an emotional break. The Norwegian needs the reps. He needs to feel the ball on his strings and get his legs back under him before the competition gets even fiercer.

Following Delray, Ruud is slated for Acapulco, then the double-header in California and Miami. It’s a brutal stretch of hardcourt tennis. However, the fans all know where his eyes are truly fixed: the European clay swing.

Ruud is a clay-court artist. He’s made two finals at Roland Garros. If he wants to finally capture that elusive Grand Slam title, he needs to peak in May. That peaking process starts right now, on a hardcourt in Delray Beach, fighting off jet lag and separation anxiety.

Can Casper Ruud beat Marcos Giron?

The matchup against Marcos Giron will tell fans everything they need to know about where Ruud is physically and mentally. Giron is solid. He doesn’t give away free points. If Ruud is sluggish or distracted, Giron will punish him.

Casper Ruud
Casper Ruud

But there is a dangerous element to an athlete who has just had a major life event. The pressure releases. A loss isn’t the end of the world anymore because there is something much more important waiting at home. That freedom allows players to swing looser and go for bigger shots. If Ruud taps into that freedom, the rest of the field is in trouble.

Ruud is seeking to put up a strong lead-up to Roland Garros. Last year, he did that by winning his first Masters 1000 title in Madrid.

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