Casper Ruud’s life is spinning faster than a tennis ball on a clay court. Just days before the 2026 Australian Open kicks off, the Norwegian star isn’t just focused on his serve or forehand—he’s also on high alert for a much more personal reason. Ruud and his fiancée, Maria Galligani, are expecting their first child, a daughter, and the due date is looming so close that every vibration in his pocket could signal a dash to the airport. "Honestly, [the baby] can come any time now," Ruud shared with the media 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. It’s no short trip back home so hopefully she stays in for a few extra weeks and I can be there for the birth, and later in the year we’ll have our wedding and celebrate our marriage."
That’s right—Ruud isn’t just prepping for the season’s first Grand Slam at Melbourne Park. He’s also bracing for a life-changing phone call at any moment. The couple plans to tie the knot later this year, adding another milestone to an already packed calendar. For now, though, Ruud is the second seed at Auckland’s ASB Classic, set to face Fabian Marozsan in his opening match. But if fatherhood calls, tennis will have to wait.
It’s a whirlwind start to 2026 for Ruud, who’s been a fixture at the top of the ATP rankings and a familiar face deep into Grand Slam draws. But as he juggles family milestones and tournament play, Ruud is also reflecting on the ever-shifting landscape of men’s tennis. In a candid interview on January 13, 2026, the Norwegian ace opened up about how the game has evolved since he first burst onto the scene.
“Well, I mean it’s what we see and what I see on court is that there are a lot of young guys these days that are coming and that are playing a bit different type of tennis to when I kind of came on tour myself,” Ruud explained. He’s had the rare opportunity to compete against legends like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, as well as the new guard led by Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and rising stars like Fonseca and Mensik.
Ruud reflected on his ATP Tour debut back in 2016, a decade ago, when he faced Viktor Troicki. "Obviously there was a big change in the kind of generation of tennis players, if we think of the last seven to eight years, I remember my first main draw on the ATP Tour back in 2016, so it’s 10 years already, and I remember playing Viktor Troicki and he was part of this generation of you know, with him and everyone from Novak [Djokovic] and Rafa [Nadal], and in-between there with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer, and all those guys that I looked up to and watching a lot on TV."
But times have changed. According to Ruud, today’s young guns play with a power and aggression that’s forced even seasoned pros to adapt. "There are a lot of young guys these days that are coming and that are playing a bit different type of tennis," he noted. Players like Sinner—now one of the “older” young stars—and Fonseca, who’s just starting out, hit the ball with ferocity on both wings. “It’s a style that Ruud had to get used to. He adds that these players usually don’t have just one powerful shot, but two; both their forehand and backhand are very strong.”
Ruud’s recent loss to Mensik at the United Cup hammered home just how much the game has shifted. Mensik’s serve and backhand, both weapons, highlighted the need for constant evolution. "Because of this, he has been carefully studying the younger players in the last few weeks and months to understand how he needs to develop and change his game to match their style of tennis."
It’s not just the ATP Tour that’s keeping Ruud on his toes. He’s also become a regular at the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), a fast-paced format born during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns. Ruud’s first impression? "This is complete chaos," he admitted, recalling the early days at the Mouratoglou Academy. The wild rules—bonus points for coming to the net, time-based quarters, even cards—were a far cry from the measured rhythm of traditional tennis. "Too many cards, you know, ‘if you come to the net, you get an extra point,’ and so on. But then you structured it a bit more. You didn’t get rid of the cards, but you organized the way they are used. Then I tried to play it myself, and it was really fun."
UTS is a different beast. Matches last just 35 to 40 minutes, there’s only one serve, and the clock is always ticking. "It’s stressful to play on the clock. You start to feel how football players feel when they are leading; you can use the time to your advantage. You can play longer points if you want to run the clock down, or use a good lead towards the end of the quarter to pressure the opponent. It completely changes the dynamic." Ruud finds the intensity exhilarating—even if it leaves him breathless. "Your pulse stays higher throughout the whole quarter. There’s almost no rest time between points. For instance, if your opponent is serving, they can serve after only five seconds and you have to be ready. I’ve had a few points where I tried to stress my opponent, but I ended up getting too stressed myself and missed the return or the next shot. It’s tough."
The atmosphere at UTS is another world, too. "Oh, it’s much louder. That’s another feeling you only get here: music between points and a loud crowd during the points. They can cheer, scream, or be silent—they can do whatever they want because there are no strict rules for the crowd. As a player, you can show even more emotion without being afraid of getting a warning or a fine."
Ruud agrees with Andrey Rublev’s assessment that UTS is all about bringing your best game every single point. "At UTS, you only have one serve, which leads to more rallies. You have to play more points from the baseline. On the ATP Tour, if you’re having a bad day from the baseline but serving well, you can sometimes ‘slug’ your way through a match. At UTS, if you don’t play your best from the baseline, you will most likely lose because the matches are so quick—around 35 to 40 minutes. If you don’t bring your ‘A-game’ for that specific window, it’s game over."
Despite its quirks, Ruud has grown to love the challenge. "I’m playing ‘full’ every point here. It’s still an adjustment getting used to some of the rules, and for some people, it might not look like ‘real’ tennis, but it is. We are playing every point to win it. It’s a great format to challenge ourselves in a new way." Whenever his schedule allows, he’s eager to join the next edition.
As Ruud balances impending fatherhood, wedding plans, and a demanding tennis calendar, he’s also adapting to a sport that refuses to stand still. Whether he’s facing the old guard, studying the new wave, or battling the clock at UTS, Ruud’s commitment to growth is clear. For now, all eyes are on Auckland—and on his phone. Tennis fans and soon-to-be parents alike are waiting to see which call comes first.