Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has announced the end of her marriage with French former player Gaël Monfils, citing the emotional toll of the war in her country.
The 32-year-old, ranked number six in the world, shared the news in a heartfelt Instagram post, calling it the most difficult thing she has ever had to share.
What Svitolina Said
Svitolina wrote that she needs to find her way back to herself — and felt she could not do that within her marriage. She said Monfils listened and respected what she needs with a strength and grace I will never forget.
In one of the most striking lines of the statement, the four-time Grand Slam semi-finalist wrote: “Some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you.”
She spoke openly about the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing herself — the parts of her struggle the public never saw, even as she carried Ukraine’s flag deep into Grand Slam draws.
A Tennis Power Couple, Five Years On
The pair married in 2021 and share a four-year-old daughter, Skaï. Svitolina made clear her daughter will always come first, adding: “Our marriage is ending, but our family is not.”
Just weeks ago the couple looked every bit the united tennis family, reaching the US Open mixed doubles semi-finals together. Monfils, 40, has stepped back from full-time singles competition while Svitolina has continued competing at the top of the game, carrying the emotional weight of representing Ukraine on the world stage.
The announcement drew an outpouring of support from players and fans alike — a reminder that behind the rankings and rivalries, the sport’s stars carry very real, very human burdens.
Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils (Credits: BBC Sport)
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
