Casper Ruud is navigating his tennis journey with resilience. On Wednesday, he faced a setback at the Moselle Open, losing to Benjamin Bonzi. This follows a challenging period since his impressive victory at the Geneva Open in May. Despite these hurdles, he remains ranked seventh in the ATP rankings and will participate in the ATP Finals, especially since Novak Djokovic has opted out. While Ruud maintains a positive outlook on his season, he can rest assured that his personal life remains strong.

On November 6th, Ruud spoke with Craig Gabriel from We Are Tennis about both tennis and his personal life. A highlight of the conversation was his relationship with his girlfriend, Maria Galligani. Unlike many tennis couples, they keep their lives private. And Galligani balances her studies with supporting Ruud at tournaments around the world. But Ruud shared that she prefers to stay out of the spotlight. “She doesn’t want it. She wants to be her own, in control of her own kind of life and especially personal life. I’m happy that she’s found that way”

When asked whether this choice was mutual or solely Maria’s, Ruud clarified, “I mean, it’s her choice. Obviously, we met before I got to the level I was at now, so things have changed for her, as well, and it hasn’t always been easy.” Being with a top player has its perks from an outsider’s perspective, but the reality is demanding. The pressure to maintain peak performance can be overwhelming for players in relationships. Especially when the tennis tour can get hectic and stressful from time to time. Leaving some top players exhausted and drained.

Ruud reflected on how their relationship has evolved since they met in 2018. At that time, he was still establishing himself as a promising player, finishing the year with a career-high ranking of 133. He explained how this has changed since his growth in the tennis scene, “There are more things in my life that I have to take care of now than when we met.” Now he’s heading off to the ATP Finals, where the pressure will be almost daunting.

Replacing the Nole while going up against other top players will be no easy feat! And being his second chance at the tournament since 2022, he’s got to make up for his defeat the first time around. So he emphasized the need for the WAGs to be understanding, acknowledging that they’ll “have to be prioritized No. 3, 4, 5 even some days.”

He elaborated on the demands of his career, “It’s tennis, it’s treatment, it’s media, it’s maybe meeting a sponsor. It’s a lot of things before you have time for maybe your partner.” But despite these challenges, Ruud praised Maria for being “very, very patient and great with these things.” Which goes to show that they may not seek attention on social media or in headlines, but she stands by him when he needs it.

It’s refreshing to see how this couple cherishes their time together away from public scrutiny. They have cultivated a relationship that works for them. Much like other tennis couples who express their love in unique ways. For instance, his fellow ATP star, Alexander Zverev, and his girlfriend frequently capture fans’ hearts with their charming social media interactions and posts.

Sascha shares the spotlight with his girlfriend following win at the Paris Masters!

Alexander Zverev recently captured the 2024 Rolex Paris Masters title, defeating Ugo Humbert with a dominant score of 6-2, 6-2 on November 3rd. This victory marked Zverev’s second Masters title of the year and solidified his position as the new world number two. The win was not just a personal triumph; it was also a moment of celebration for his girlfriend, Sophia Thomalla. Known for her playful spirit, Thomalla added a fun twist to their romantic moments on social media! Her humor turned an ordinary scene into a memorable one.

After the match, Thomalla shared a lighthearted post from the airport featuring a cream donut and lemonade, captioning it, “Finally. The romantic dinner in Paris I was hoping for,” along with a love-struck emoji tagging Zverev.

The couple shares a strong connection, often seen supporting one another at various tournaments. While Thomalla missed Zverev’s French Open final due to work commitments, she remained his biggest cheerleader from afar. Zverev has openly praised Thomalla for providing him with “peace and security,” emphasizing how crucial her support is for his career.

Together, they inspire others by showing that, with dedication and mutual respect, personal and professional commitments can coexist beautifully. Just like Casper does with Maria. They may not show it that often online, but the love is always blossoming behind the scenes!