"The other guys know who they are": Casper Ruud tells tennis stars to step up after his engagement to long-time girlfriend

Casper Ruud had a clear message for his rivals and also friends who have yet to pop the question to their girlfriends as a what are you waiting for type quip at the Australian Open.

Ruud saw off Jaume Munar at the Australian Open in a gruelling five sets affair and after being one of several top tennis stars to get engaged during the off-season to Maria Galligani, he told those on the fence to step up.

He won in the end 6-3, 1-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 and he was asked afterwards what was more nerve wracking out of playing Rafael Nadal in a major final and proposing to his long-time girlfriend.

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As well as Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur all got engaged. The latter to fellow pro Katie Boulter with all three being with their girlfriends also for a number of years and it became almost an on running joke with a new engagement most days during the off season.

“I’m nervous now you’ve asked me about it, I don’t want to say the wrong thing,” Ruud laughed post match.

“I’m trying to say I will never forget playing Rafa in a Slam final but for sure, I will also never forget going down on my knee to Maria, it was a beautiful moment. I think this is a bigger moment.”

“Yeah there is, there’s a few other young guys who have been in a relationship for a long time so I’m kind of teasing them,” Ruud replied.

“I hope for their girlfriends that they step up at some point! You know, the other guys know who they are.”

“There have been a couple of engagements this off-season.

“I’m happy for the guys that do it, it’s a great moment for everyone. We are so focused on our career for 10-and-a-half months of the year so we need a little time off and that was the only time to think about something like this.”

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