Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina and French tennis player Gael Monfils have announced their separation, with Svitolina revealing the emotional toll of Russia’s war against Ukraine and her decision to find her way back to herself contributed to the decision.
The couple announced the news in a joint statement shared on Instagram, describing the decision as one of the most difficult moments in their relationship.
“This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share,” Svitolina said.
“Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside.”
Svitolina said she had struggled emotionally, including sleepless nights, doubts and a growing sense of losing herself. She had previously stepped away from tennis because she was not in the right emotional state to continue competing.
The Ukrainian player acknowledged Monfils’ support throughout the difficult period, saying he had stood by her as she navigated her personal struggles stating “Gael saw all of it. He never let go of my hand.
“We fought through this together for a long time, with everything we had. But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you.”
“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,” she said.
She praised Monfils for respecting her decision, describing his response as an act of strength and grace “Gael has loved me through my greatest joys and my darkest moments, and I have loved him with all my heart.
“Together, we built a beautiful life, and we were given the most precious gift of all, our daughter, Skai.” she noted
The couple, who share a daughter named Skai, born in October 2022, said their separation would not affect their commitment to raising her together insisting that neither partner was to blame for the separation.
Relationship Began in 2018
Svitolina and Monfils began dating in late 2018 and became engaged in April 2021. They married three months later and went on to establish themselves as one of tennis’s best-known couples.
The pair appeared together in mixed doubles at the US Open in August, attracting attention from fans who had followed their relationship alongside their individual careers.
Their separation comes as Monfils enters a new phase of his professional life following his retirement from tennis after a career spanning 22 years. The US Open marked his final tournament, according to the report.
Monfils has said he plans to move into wealth management with a Swiss company, although he intends to remain connected to tennis through his wife’s playing career.
