Casper Ruud and his fiancée Maria Galligani set to welcome first child

Casper Ruud has received some exciting news which he has shared on social media on Thursday evening as he and his fiancée Maria Galligani are expecting their first child. 

Ruud shared a picture of the couple with his fiance smiling ear-to-ear alongside the former Grand Slam finalist and not only were they the star but also their dog. “The team is growing. See you next year baby girl,” Ruud wrote in an Instagram post. 

Last November, Ruud announced his engagement to Galligani after a long-time relationship. It saw congratulations from multiple of Ruud's colleagues including Novak Djokovic who merely just left heart eyes on his post. Tommy Paul wrote: "Yeaaa congratulations guys." while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina wrote: "Wow congrats both."

It has not been the best middle part of the season for Ruud who has struggled with form after such a high point. He'd won the Madrid Open but disaster struck as he had to withdraw from Wimbledon.

Perhaps not a disaster given Ruud's distaste for the surface infamously he went to go and watch the Weeknd around Europe instead of practicing for Wimbledon and often plays golf. But on return he lost in the Last 16 in Canada, first round in Canada and then to Raphael Collignon, one of the surprise stories of the US Open.

But part of all of his successes is his fiance who he previously doted over after winning Madrid that she was the extra push perhaps that he needed to lift that title in one of his most recent high points.

“I owe a lot of my success to all my closest ones – my family, my friends, my fiancée Maria. We got engaged last year so she’s been an incredible support for me over many years now.

“She came yesterday to come and support. Maybe that was the last little push I needed to get over the finish line. I’m really happy, and it’s great I’m surrounded by amazing people. I’m a really lucky guy.”

Now not only are they getting married but he will become a father to boot. Will father time bring more of a relaxed freedom for Ruud or will his form suffer? Hard to say of course but no doubt it'll bring him an awful lot of joy going into the second half of the year.