Casper Ruud experiences "best feeling ever" after wife Maria gives birth to daughter

Casper Ruud can call himself an ATP Masters 1000 champion, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, a former world No. 2 and an Olympian among many distinctions.

But it’s his newest title that has brought out the “best feeling ever” for Norway’s most decorated tennis player in history: dad.

Ruud announced on Sunday that his wife Maria Galligani gave birth to the couple’s first child, a daughter, on January 30.

“Thank you for all beautiful messages these last couple of weeks. Maria and our baby are doing great,” the 27-year-old shared on his Instagram account.

Ruud is coming off a fourth-round showing at the Australian Open, where his tournament was ended by Ben Shelton. It was in Melbourne where the current No. 12 shared that his cell phone was on 24/7 outside of match play in the event a mad dash home was necessary.

“I have to thank Maria for letting me go in the first place,” he credited following an opening-round win.

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The Oslo native is listed in Norway’s lineup for this weekend’s first round of Davis Cup Qualifiers against Great Britain, with a Dallas Open appearance to follow beginning February 9. Jack Draper, who has been sidelined since pulling out ahead of the second round at last year’s US Open, is targeting the two-day tie at Nadderud Arena to make his 2026 debut for the visiting nation.