Professional tennis stars Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils have announced the end of their marriage. Svitolina shared the news in an Instagram post on Monday, describing the announcement as “the most difficult thing I have ever had to share.”
In her statement, the sixth-ranked Ukrainian tennis player opened up about the heavy emotional impact that the war in her home country has had on her personal well-being. She acknowledged the support she received from Monfils while taking a break from the sport to recover, noting that his backing helped her cope with severe struggles.
“But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you,” Svitolina wrote in her post. “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.”
The couple shares a daughter, Skai. Despite the end of their marriage, Svitolina emphasized that their commitment to co-parenting remains unchanged. “Together, we built a beautiful life, and we were given the most precious gift of all, our daughter, Skai,” she said. “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 dissolution of their marriage appears to have coincided with a shift in Monfils’ professional plans. The 40-year-old French player, who had previously indicated intentions to retire at the conclusion of the tennis season, has concluded his career earlier than anticipated.
According to listings from the sport’s drug-testing organization, Monfils is officially recognized among players who have declared themselves retired, with his career status designated as ended effective October 5. The former world No. 6 player had widely been expected to play his final professional matches in front of a home crowd at the Paris Masters, which runs beginning October 31.
