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Casper Ruud’s fiancée, Maria Galligani, couldn’t hide her delight as he touched on his first win as an engaged man at the 2025 United Cup. The Norwegian called his proposal to his longtime girlfriend his “biggest achievement” of 2024.
Ruud kicked off his 2025 journey with a match against the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac at the United Cup on Sunday, December 29. The closely contested fixture saw the former World No. 2 steal the lead in the first-set tiebreak 7-6(6). His opponent, though, staged a spectacular 7-5 comeback to force a decider. Casper Ruud proved too strong for Machac in the decisive moments of the final set and kept Norway alive in the tie with a 7-6(6), 5-7, 6-4 win.
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In the on-court interview that followed, Ruud spoke about his match and his off-season, while also addressing his engagement.
"What a way to start the new season," he said about his match against Machac. "If every match is gonna be this tough, it’s gonna be a tough one. But happy to start the new season.
"It hasn’t been the longest of off-seasons. But I feel…" he said, before being quizzed by the interviewer about his new engagement.
"I did get engaged, yes. So that’s the biggest achievement of the year, for sure. That was a great moment for me and my now-fiancée Maria – proud moment for us," Ruud said.
Although the Norwegian did compete in a couple of exhibition events after his engagement, the United Cup match against Tomas Machac was his first official win as an engaged man.
"First match as an engaged man, so, I guess it’s working well," he added.
The camera simultaneously panned to Maria Galligani, who couldn’t stop blushing in the stands. Ruud, who made public his relationship with Galligani, a psychologist, in 2018, popped the question this November in a romantic beach setting.
Watch the video here (00:52):
Casper Ruud-led Norway to take on Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz-led Poland at United Cup 2025
Although Casper Ruud secured a crucial win against the Czech Republic at the United Cup, Team Norway failed to clinch the tie. Karolina Muchova won the first match against Malene Helgo. She and Machac then sealed the deal in the final mixed-doubles match against Ulrikke Eikeri and Viktor Durasovic.
Team Norway now faces a formidable opponent in the 2024 runners-up, Poland. The two teams clash on December 30, with five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek inaugurating her campaign against Malene Helgo. This is expected to be followed by Casper Ruud’s match against Hubert Hurkacz.
The final fixture is a mixed-doubles match between Swiatek-Hurkacz and Eikeri-Ruud.
