Casper Ruud endured a frustrating 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 defeat against Ben Shelton in the fourth round of the Australian Open on Monday night, but the silver lining of the three-time grand slam finalist’s loss is that he will finally be able to return home.
Ruud, the 12th seed, has had one eye on events back home during his time in Melbourne owing to the fact that his wife, Maria, is pregnant with their first child and is due to give birth this weekend. Ruud had stated repeatedly that he would withdraw and immediately begin the long journey home to Norway if she went into labour during the tournament.
