Casper Ruud explains why he may not be able to play the Australian Open this year

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Casper Ruud is competing at the ATP tournament in Auckland this week, but he may not be able to play the Australian Open.

Ruud is a three-time Grand Slam finalist and has a career-high ranking of world number two.

Despite winning the biggest title of his career in 2025 at the Madrid Open, some of Ruud’s other results caused him to fall outside the top 10 in the ATP rankings.

As he looks to make his way back up the rankings, Ruud has revealed that he may not actually be able to play the Australian Open.

Casper Ruud reveals important reason that could disrupt his Australian Open

Ruud began his 2026 season in Australia at the United Cup, where he won his match against Alex de Minaur, but was beaten by Jakub Mensik.

The Norwegian has now headed to Auckland for the ASB Classic, but in his pre-tournament press conference he admitted that he was unsure of whether he would be able to finish the tournament.

Ruud’s long-term partner, Maria Galligani, is currently heavily pregnant and he has now revealed that the birth of his daughter could happen at any moment.

“Honestly, she (the baby) can come any time now,” said Ruud. “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.”

Ruud added, “It will be a really fun year, but if we put those (family) things aside and think about tennis I think it can be an exciting year.

“Last season was in a way not what I was hoping for but at the same time I really played some good tennis. I got two titles last year, and hopefully play more like I did those two weeks for this season coming up now.”

Casper Ruud’s path to the ASB Classic title

With other things currently occupying the mind of Ruud, he will look to try and maintain his focus on the ASB Classic.

This is Ruud’s fourth appearance at the ATP tournament in Auckland, but he is still yet to win a match at the event.

As the second seed, Ruud receives an automatic bye to the second round and he faces a tricky opener against either defending champion Gael Monfils or Fabian Marozsan.

Some of the other potential threats to Ruud in the ASB Classic draw include Ben Shelton, the aforementioned Mensik, Cameron Norrie and Luciano Darderi.

Ruud is expected to play his first match in Auckland on Wednesday, January 14, but that could all depend on whether his baby daughter has arrived in the world.