Father-to-be Ruud ready to leave Melbourne early

Casper Ruud, a Norwegian player, claims that if his wife becomes pregnant during the Australian Open, he “probably won’t be here the next day.”

Maria and her daughter are expecting a son very soon.

In Melbourne on Monday, Ruud, the 12th seed, defeated Mattia Bellucci from Italy 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

The ringer is on all hours of the day just in case, except when I’m playing a match.

I’m going to be here for as long as I can and as long as Maria allows, but there’s more to life than just tennis.

Ruud has traveled extensively with his family, and his father, a former professional football player, is his coach.

Ruud told the ATP Tour website, “I know for a fact that if everything goes well, I’ll have another person at home when I leave my house.”

She’ll be a very small and tiny girl, but she’ll be there, and I want to take her and my wife Maria on a happy trip around the country.

“I’m not just doing this for myself anymore,” I declare. I can play for someone else.