Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils have announced their separation; The tennis players married in 2021 and have a four-year-old daughter; Watch the Japan Open all this week, live on Sky Sports Tennis
Monday 19 October 2026 10:31, UK
World No 6 Elina Svitolina has announced she has separated from husband Gael Monfils.
In an emotional Instagram post, the 32-year-old Ukrainian opened up about the mental toll of Russia's ongoing war against her country, describing sleepless nights and self-doubt.
Svitolina said she had come to realise she needed to rediscover herself and could no longer do so within her marriage.
"This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share," she wrote.
- Latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW
- Tennis scores, results and schedule from around the world
- Download Sky Sports app for analysis, news, video and more
Instagram This content is provided by Instagram, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Instagram cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Instagram cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Instagram cookies for this session only.
"Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside.
"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.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
"It is the hardest truth I have ever had to face and the hardest thing I have ever had to tell the person I love. Gael listened. He has respected what I need with a strength and grace I will never forget."
Svitolina - a four-time grand slam semi-finalist - and French former world No 6 Monfils, 40, married in 2021 and have a four-year-old daughter, Skai.
"Skai will always come first," Svitolina added. "Our marriage is ending, but our family is not.
"Please know that there is no one to blame here. There are only two people who loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape."
Only a few months ago Svitolina and Monfils had joined forces to reach the semi-finals of the US Open Mixed Doubles Championship.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Svitolina and Monfils had impressed in the tournament until coming up against Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the last four.
More recently, Svitolina was in action at the Wuhun Open, but ran into an inspired Sonay Kartal, with the Brit winning their quarter-final clash in three sets.
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours live on Sky Sports, with this week's action including events in China, Japan, Kazakhstan, France and Belgium. Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract on NOW.