A heartbroken Gael Monfils has been hailed for his “class” after the French tennis legend revealed that his now ex-wife — world No.6 Elina Svitolina — has been the victim of toxic criticism following their high-profile marriage breakdown.
Svitolina has been copping heat from fans in recent days, critical of her reasonings behind the very public split (she said the war in Ukraine contributed to her declining mental health).
Their marriage breakup also fastracked Monfils’ retirement with the L’Equipe explaining that tennis “lost all meaning” for him in the immediate aftermath.
Backlash followed, so Svitolina then issued another statement, attempting to clarify the previous, saying “there’s so much more to it, and it was never just about one thing”.
“When you’ve been living through the reality of war for more than 4.5 years, experiencing so many different situations, emotions, and difficult moments, you naturally start seeing life differently. Your perspective changes, your values and priorities shift, and you begin to understand what you truly want out of life,” she said.
“At some point, I simply realised that I didn’t want to keep living a life where I wasn’t truly happy. And believe me, coming to this decision was anything but easy.”
However, that only served to add more fuel to the fire and now Monfils has taken to social media to defend Svitolina and tell people to lay off the mother of his child.
“Over the years, Elina and I have taken great joy in sharing our story and our family with you all,” he said in a heartfelt and emotional post on Instagram.
“We have also always shared our struggles as individuals. For me, a series of injuries and self-doubt that challenged me in new ways. For Elina, the destruction and suffering that have torn her country apart.
“Now, we are separating. And just as before, this is a struggle that we have decided, together, to share with the public.
“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.
“Even though she did not owe anyone an explanation, Elina chose to speak vulnerably and truthfully about her reasons for this decision. 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.
“Elina and I may no longer be a couple, but we are still a family. Though my heart hurts, I am forever grateful to her for her support and love over the years. When I was ready to quit tennis, she gave me the encouragement I needed to continue. And she is the person behind some of my life’s greatest victories: our daughter, Skaï being the greatest of all.
“While I am deeply grateful that the public feels so invested in my happiness, I have found the lack of grace and kindness shown towards Elina upsetting. 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.
“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.
“As we move through this new chapter, I would ask everyone to remember that we are all just human beings: not Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina, but Gaël and Elina. Imperfect, but trying our best.”
The statement has gone viral with tennis stars such as Alex de Minaur one of the 100-odd thousand people reacting to the post.
And the hugely popular Frenchman has also been hailed for his class, although his emotional, heart-felt words may not have had the intended effect.
Social media account tennis_sinfiltro said: “That’s the classiest post i have ever read. Respect Gael 👏.”
“This is how you put out a statement… classy, real and logical,” another fan said.
“Guy is pure class ... she doesn’t deserve that,” another said.
And another: “I feel bad for him, it’s clear she decided to end it and it’s still not clear why.”
And another: “Hats off to the people that raised Gael Monfils ... class from start to finish. A man’s character is most evident at his low points in life. He will meet a woman worthy of holding his hand when he doesn’t expect it.”
But many fans have questioned why the breakdown has been played out in public.
“Why would you make your split so public? You’re just fueling the flames. I’m not saying it’s right but that’s how social media is. Not everything needs to be shared with the world,” one fan observed.