Casper Ruud is returning to the ASB Classic in 2026.
Casper Ruud is coming back to the ASB Classic – and hopefully this time fans will get to see him play.
The Norwegian star, ranked No 12 on the ATP tour, has confirmed his return to Auckland for 2026, adding a lustre to the event.
Ruud has been one of the most consistent players on the circuit over the last five years, collecting 13 titles from 23 finals.
AD: ASB Classic on sale now – Winner: Best Sporting Event 2025 – Don’t miss out!
Ruud was last here in 2023, arriving as the No 3 in the world, off the back of a spectacular year in which he reached the decider at Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows. But his stay was an anti-climax, as the tournament was badly affected by the record downpours across Auckland.
After several delays, his first-round match was moved indoors – with only a handful of media and tournament officials able to watch – and the top seed was upset in three sets by Serbian journeyman Laslo Djere in the vastly different conditions. But that experience hasn’t dissuaded Ruud – who also came here in 2018 and 2020 – from another visit.
“It is a really nice tournament,” said Ruud. “We had a really good time. You do not get many chances to go to New Zealand and it is a cool country and a great tournament.”
Ruud’s 2025 season was mixed, by his high standards. He reached the final of the ATP 500 in Dallas and enjoyed runs in Rome, where he was beaten in the quarter-finals by Jannik Sinner, and Tokyo, where he was stopped by Carlos Alcaraz in the last four. But the 26-year-old also had second-round exits at the three grand slams he played in. The highlight came in Madrid, where he took out his first Masters 1000 title.
“It was the biggest title I have won,” said Ruud. “All-in-all this year was not exactly what I hoped for but this title made the year good and when I look back, that is what I am most proud of.”
Ruud will be second seed at the ASB Classic, behind world No 9 Ben Shelton. The duo, who will both visit Auckland for the fourth time, shared an uncommon bond. Ruud and Shelton are coached by their fathers, who also both played on the ATP Tour. In the process, Christian Ruud and Bryan Shelton competed in Auckland seven times between them from 1993 to 1998.
Casper Ruud has been a force on the tour since 2020, when he first cracked the top 50. In 2021 he won five singles titles, with another three in 2022, from seven finals. He has reached three grand slam finals – losing to Rafa Nadal, Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic – and also made the French Open semi-finals in 2024, while he has progressed to the final four of a ATP 100 event on nine separate occasions, with three finals.
He’s been overshadowed – like everyone else – by the rise of Alcaraz and Sinner – but still boasts 19 wins over top 10 players, including Danil Medvedev, Djokovic, Alcaraz, Alex Zverev, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Taylor Fritz. Ruud is a legend in his homeland, as no Norwegian had ever won an ATP title before or been ranked inside the top 30 before he emerged.
He is already working hard on preparations for next year.
“We are already in pre-season here at home training and doing my best to improve many aspects of my game,” said Ruud. ”My goal for 2026 is to be back in the top 10 and to make it back to the ATP Finals in Turin, which is a big goal and benchmark to set yourself."
Ruud, who is also a keen golfer, hopes to get the opportunity to play here ahead of the tournament.
“I had a great time playing golf in New Zealand last time,” said Ruud, who shared a tee with his father and Brett Steven, who were tour contemporaries.
“Of course I am there to play tennis but if I have some time to play golf I will be happy to do so.”
ASB Classic tournament director Nicolas Lamperin is thrilled that a global tennis name like Ruud will be back.
“Casper is year-in, year-out one of the best performers on the world stage,” said Lamperin. “It is wonderful that both Casper and his father Christian are strong supporters of the ASB Classic and enjoy things both on and off the court in Auckland.
“Casper is not just an excellent player but an outstanding person and professional who has real mana among the tennis fraternity. I cannot overstate that it is a rare privilege to be able to see world-leading players like Casper on our courts.”