Casper Ruud has reached the fourth round of the 2026 Madrid Open after knocking out two local favorites in Jaume Munar and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Norwegian has extra motivation to defend his title at the tournament this year. His almost three-month-old daughter, Camilla, is cheering him on this time around.
Amid his journey in the Spanish capital, Ruud opened up about fatherhood and explored the idea of his daughter Camilla’s introduction to sports.
Casper Ruud’s Life Has ‘Definitely Changed’ After Welcoming His First Daughter
Ruud’s baby daughter with his partner Maria Galligani was born on January 30, 2026. The couple has been dating since 2018 and got engaged in 2024. It has also been rumored that the tennis player privately married Galligani at the tail end of last year, ahead of their child’s birth.
During his run at the Madrid Open, the former World No. 2 admitted that the new family addition has changed his life for the better.
“It definitely changes your life, for sure. And for the moment I don’t think that will change, but it’s for the better; it’s great,” he told BB Tennis.
“It’s a new sort of challenge. It’s taking care of a human or a person for many, many years to come. I look forward to all of the time we’ll have together.”
Ruud also quipped about the reality of being the father of a newborn.
“But the beginning of your baby’s life, it’s not that much I find that the father can contribute to. You know we don’t have milk; we cannot feed them in this way. They sleep a lot; they eat a lot, so it’s not that much that I can do in the beginning,” he joked.
He is, however, excited to strengthen his bond with his child as she grows a little older. “As she gets older and starts walking and starts having more personality, I look forward to spending even more time and have them travel to more tournaments.”
Casper Ruud comes from a sporting family. His father Christian is a former top 50 tennis player, peaking at No. 39 in singles. Of his two sisters, Caroline and Charlotte, the latter has trained at the Rafa Nadal Academy and plays collegiate tennis for the University of South Florida.
Speaking about his daughter’s introduction to tennis, the 27-year-old said, “Not sure, but I have come to the realization that she’ll be exposed to tennis. She already has been in a way, but she doesn’t know.”
“Whether it’s tennis or other sports, it’s great for kids. I found it a really important part of my childhood. Whether you want to become a professional or not, it doesn’t matter,” he added.
MORE: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Casper Ruud Preview: Head-to-Head, Prediction for Madrid Open 2026
Ruud is competing for a place in the quarterfinals of the Madrid Open on Tuesday, April 28. He faces former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. According to PFSN’s exclusive simulator, the Norwegian has a slight edge in the upcoming battle.
