casper ruud Embraces Fatherhood Ahead of Delray Beach Second-Round Match
Casper Ruud is balancing life’s biggest personal milestone with a busy early-season schedule. The 25-year-old Norwegian, ranked No. 12 in the world, arrived in Delray Beach with a newborn at home and a spot in the tournament’s second round on the horizon. He will meet American Marcos Giron in a second-round match Wednesday night, Feb. 18 (ET).
Choosing Delray Beach as a warm-up and a personal touch
Ruud said he deliberately chose to play this ATP 250 event to bridge the transition from indoor conditions back into outdoor hard courts ahead of a run of warm-weather tournaments. “It made more sense with the scheduling, playing Acapulco (next week), ” he said, noting that a stop in Florida helps avoid a jarring move from freezing temperatures at home to the North American swing.
Beyond scheduling logistics, there is a personal connection for Ruud in this part of Florida: his grandparents kept a winter home nearby, and his father, Christian, competed in the area nearly three decades ago. That family history adds a nostalgic layer to the trip, even if the new baby remains with his wife at home.
“I love coming to Florida and have been since I was young boy, ” he said. “It’s nostalgic for me and perfect weather. They have good golf around. They have good restaurants down the Atlantic Driveway. A cozy small town you can walk around here. ”
New fatherhood, homesickness and motivation
Ruud acknowledged the emotional complexities of traveling so soon after becoming a father. His daughter was born roughly 25 days before the tournament, and this is the first extended trip he’s taken away from home since her birth. “It’s an emotional feeling, ” he said. “This is just the beginning of 20-to-25 years of taking care of her. Fun and exciting. I’ll try to use it as motivation. I’ll try to remember when you travel this far, might as well try your best and play good tennis. Let’s see if I can do it this trip. But I’ll feel homesick. ”
On the court, Ruud was sanguine about any physical effects of fatherhood on his game. “My forehand still feels pretty similar. I haven’t felt overuse of my arm yet. I haven’t carried her in my arms too much yet, ” he said with a hint of wryness, balancing the grind of tour life with the new responsibilities at home.
Views on tour issues and the road ahead
Ruud also touched on broader tour dynamics. He criticized calls for harsh penalties when players withdraw from events at the last minute, calling such proposals “kind of harsh, really. ” He reminded listeners that players are human and sometimes face personal issues that require last-minute decisions; he cited his own recent retirement from a tournament in Dallas for personal reasons.
Another topic weighing on the tour is a proposal to reduce the number of ATP 250 events by 2028. Ruud voiced disappointment at the idea, framing smaller tournaments as critical stepping stones for many players. “Quite sad to see that as a plan, ” he said. “My personal view is I built a lot of confidence and ranking at my success at 250s. Other players as well. Winning a tournament, whether it’s 1000 or 250, it’s best feeling in the world. ”
Delray Beach’s field this week is among its strongest, with eight players inside the top 30, an encouraging sign for the event’s future even as the tour debates structural changes. For Ruud, a player still chasing his first Grand Slam title after three major final appearances, the week offers match practice and a chance to sharpen form ahead of bigger events, including the Sunshine Double in March.
As he prepares for his match on Wednesday night, Ruud carries a mix of nostalgia, new responsibility and determination. Whether the Delray stop becomes a regular fixture on his calendar will depend on how the week unfolds — and how often he can balance family life with the relentless travel of professional tennis.
