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Gael Monfils defended his wife after the “venomous” reaction that followed Elina Svitolina’s announcement of their separation earlier this week.
Monfils, 40, opened up in an Instagram post Friday about the breakup of two of tennis’s top stars and the reaction to the stunning news.
Svitolina attributed the split to the toll the war between her native Ukraine and Russia took on her and how it changed her perspective on life, saying in her own Instagram post that she “didn’t want to keep living a life where I wasn’t truly happy.”
Ire for the 32-year-old Svitolina only increased when she revealed the separation led to Monfils retiring slightly earlier than he intended to, saying his “career ended abruptly after he made the decision to stop based on our situation.”
The Frenchman called it quits after his second-round U.S. Open loss in September instead of as planned at the Paris Masters next month.
Svitolina still expressed love for her husband and noted the unconditional support he showed her.
Monfils continued to do that Friday, once again having his wife’s back.
The couple has been married since 2021 and share a 4-year-old daughter.
He wrote about their continued openness with their fans and reminded them of how complicated the end of a relationship can be.
“As anyone who has experienced the end of a relationship knows, it is not an easy thing to talk about. A separation is a minefield of messy, complicated feelings that Elina and I are both trying our best to navigate, and we are doing so with the great respect and love that we still, and will always, hold for each other,” Monfils wrote.
He credited Svitolina for speaking out honestly on their situation and feels fans should appreciate that more.
“Even though she did not owe anyone an explanation, Elina chose to speak vulnerably and truthfully about her reasons for this decision,” Monfils wrote. “She did so in the best way she knew how. Many decided that her explanation wasn’t perfect enough, and Elina has now faced a kind of criticism that I have found unkind at best, and venomous at worst.”
He noted that he found the response had a “lack of grace and kindness” toward Svitolina that was “upsetting” before chiding those who tried to dismiss or discredit Svitolina’s reasons for ending things.
Monfils also praised her support of him and his career.
“While some may not understand her reasons, or agree with them, please remember that there is so much more that happens in a relationship behind the curtain that cannot be explained in a post,” he wrote.
“Elina has her battles to fight, just as I have mine. I respect her choices and reasons, and we will continue to support and care deeply about each other, especially as two people who share a child.”