ASB Classic: Casper Ruud on return to Auckland, golf in New Zealand and impending fatherhood

Casper Ruud enters the ASB Classic as the second seed. Photo / Photosport

Casper Ruud is hoping for better this time around.

The world No 12 does not have fond memories of his time on court in Auckland, tumbling out of the ASB Classic in his first match in 2023.

It wasn’t so much the result, though that too would have stung, but the way the tournament unfolded.

The 2023 event was badly impacted by poor weather, with organisers forced to move matches indoors where they were played with no fans in attendance. As players come to the Auckland tournament looking to get into some sort of groove on the outdoor hard courts in preparation for the Australian Open, 2023’s expedition to Auckland did not serve its purpose for the Norwegian.

“Fingers crossed that it’s better this year,” Rudd said.

“It’s been great this weekend so hopefully it stays the same. I think it’s a great tournament. It’s the only time you have a chance to visit country of New Zealand, as it’s so far away typically for us Europeans.

“I love spending time here and I’m here because I want to and I would like to come and give it another chance and see if it can be a good lead up to Melbourne.”

Coming into his fourth ASB Classic, Ruud is yet to win a main-draw match at Stanley Street. In 2018, Ruud progressed through qualifying before falling to Robin Haase in the first round of the main draw. He exited at the same point in 2020, when he was beaten by eventual champion Ugo Humbert.

Wanting to make amends in the tournament wasn’t the only reason Ruud wanted to return to New Zealand – and won’t be the only reason he might come back in the future.

Off the court, the second seed has enjoyed his time in the country and, in large part, the quality of golf courses on offer.

“As a golfer, I know they have great golf courses here,” he said after playing nine holes at Royal Auckland and Grange on Saturday.

“Two years ago, we went up to Te Arai, which is just next to Tara Iti, which is one of the world’s most famous golf courses. So, hopefully one day I can get out on Tara Iti. It’s one of the courses on my bucket list. So, there’s definitely a big chance that I will come back.”

As the second seed in the tournament, Ruud gets a first-round bye and won’t be in action until the round of 16 begins on Wednesday. That match could turn out to be a blockbuster for fans should defending champion and crowd favourite Gael Monfils get through his first-round match against Fabian Marozsan, with the winner meeting Ruud in their next assignment.

Things could, however, change in an instant for the Norwegian.

The 27-year-old and his partner Maria Galligani announced in September they were expecting their first child, and Ruud indicated his daughter could arrive in the coming weeks.

“Honestly, she can come anytime now,” Ruud said.

“So, I mean, 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.”

Ruud and Galligani were also planning their wedding for later in the year but, for the moment, he said his focus was on his work.

“It will be a really fun year, but you know, those things, if we put those 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 when I played well and I got two titles last year.

“[I’ll] try to play more like I did those two weeks for this season coming up now.”

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.