‘Family Comes First’ Dad-to-be Ruud ready to quit Australian Open 2026 for pregnant wife

We often talk about the “pressure” of a Grand Slam, the weight of the fans, the heat of the sun, and the grueling five-set marathons. But for Casper Ruud at the 2026 Australian Open, the real pressure isn’t coming from across the net. It’s coming from a phone ringer that’s turned up to the max 24/7.

The 12th-seeded Norwegian has plenty of reasons to stay in Melbourne. He’s chasing his fourth Grand Slam final and a shot at his first major title. But there’s a catch: his wife, Maria, is back home in Norway, heavily pregnant and due any day now.

More to Life Than Tennis

Ruud has been incredibly candid about where his priorities lie. While he’s focused on the court, his heart is clearly back home. After a clinical straight-sets win over Mattia Bellucci in the first round, he admitted that his phone is only ever off when he’s actually mid-match.

“If she goes into labour, I probably won’t be here the next day,” Ruud told the crowd at Melbourne Park. It’s a refreshing take in a sport that often demands total, blinkered obsession. For Ruud, the calculation is simple: a trophy is great, but being there for the birth of his first child is non-negotiable.

The Maria Factor

Ruud was quick to give credit where it’s due, thanking Maria for “letting him go in the first place.” It’s a long flight from Oslo to Melbourne, and the logistics of a “mad dash” home aren’t exactly easy. But he’s playing with a “win-win” mindset, every match he wins is a step closer to history, and every day he’s still in the tournament is a day Maria hasn’t called for the “get home now” signal.

What’s Next on Court?

Assuming the phone doesn’t buzz with that specific ringtone, Ruud’s next challenge is Spain’s Jaume Munar. These two have history, Ruud narrowly escaped a five-set thriller against Munar at this very tournament last year.

Munar is a gritty competitor who will look to make Ruud work for every point. If Ruud’s mind wanders for even a second to baby booties and nursery colors, the Spaniard is exactly the type of player to capitalize.

For now, Casper Ruud is a man living in two worlds: the high-stakes bubble of elite tennis and the looming, life-changing reality of fatherhood. Whether he leaves Melbourne with a trophy or just a very expensive last-minute plane ticket, 2026 is already shaping up to be his biggest year yet.