Elina Svitolina with Gael Monfils. (Pic credit: Elina's Instagram Post)
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has announced the end of her marriage to French tennis player Gael Monfils, describing the decision as the most difficult thing she has ever had to share and opening up about the emotional struggles that shaped her journey over the past year.The world No. 6 made the announcement in an emotional Instagram post on Monday, explaining that she needed to rediscover herself after battling the psychological toll of the war in Ukraine. The couple, who have a daughter, Skai, together, said their family would remain united despite the end of their marriage.
“This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share,” Svitolina wrote.The 32-year-old revealed that she had rarely spoken publicly about her inner struggles but had reached a point where she needed to step away from tennis to recover emotionally.
She described sleepless nights, doubts and a feeling of losing herself during a particularly difficult period.
‘No amount of love from someone else can win them for you’
Svitolina acknowledged the role Monfils played in supporting her through her struggles, saying the Frenchman stood by her during some of the darkest moments of her life.“Gaël saw all of this. He never let go of my hand. We fought through it together for a long time, giving it all our strength,” she wrote.However, the Ukrainian explained that the emotional battles she was facing ultimately required a personal journey that she felt she could not undertake within their marriage.
“But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you,” she wrote.“With time, I came to understand that I need to find my way back to myself and that I cannot do that within our marriage.”Svitolina described the decision as an extremely painful one, particularly because of the love and support she had shared with Monfils.“This is the hardest truth I have ever had to face and the hardest thing I have ever had to say to the person I love,” she said.She also paid tribute to Monfils for the way he responded to her decision, saying he had listened to her needs with dignity and understanding.“Gaël loved me in both the happiest and the darkest moments of my life. And I loved him with all my heart,” she added.
Daughter Skai remains their priority
Despite confirming the end of their marriage, Svitolina stressed that their responsibilities as parents would remain unchanged. The couple share a daughter, Skai, who they said would continue to be their foremost priority.“Together, we built a beautiful life, and we were given the most precious gift of all, our daughter, Skai,” Svitolina wrote.“Skai will always come first. Our marriage is ending, but our family is not. We will always be her parents, side by side, at every step of her life.”The Ukrainian also made it clear that neither partner should be blamed for the separation, describing it as a difficult personal decision rather than the result of wrongdoing by either individual.“There are only two people who deeply loved each other, and a story that is now taking a different form,” she wrote, asking the public to respect their privacy as they navigate the transition.“We ask you to treat us with kindness and give us the privacy and time we need to heal. Thank you for your love.”
Monfils' retirement adds another chapter
The announcement comes amid a significant transition in Monfils' tennis career. The 40-year-old Frenchman had planned to retire at the end of the 2026 season, with a farewell appearance at the Paris Masters expected to be a fitting conclusion in front of his home crowd.However, the sport’s drug-testing organisation has listed Monfils among players who have declared themselves retired, with his career officially ending on October 5.Monfils, a former world No. 6, enjoyed a long career marked by his athleticism and showmanship, while Svitolina has established herself among the leading players on the women’s tour.