Elina Svitolina Announces End of Marriage to Gael Monfils

Elina Svitolina has announced the end of her marriage to fellow tennis player Gael Monfils, describing the decision as the most difficult thing she has had to share. The sixth-ranked Ukrainian made the announcement in an Instagram post on Monday, addressing the personal struggles that led her to conclude she needed to find her way back to herself outside the marriage.

Svitolina and Monfils have a daughter, Skai, and Svitolina stressed that their responsibilities as parents will remain central despite the end of their marriage. She said the couple had built a beautiful life together and that their daughter would always come first.

Svitolina addresses a difficult personal decision

In her message, Svitolina spoke about the emotional effect that the war in her country had on her well-being. She said Monfils supported her through that struggle when she took a break from tennis to recover.

“But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you,” Svitolina wrote. She added that, over time, she came to understand that she needed to find her own way back to herself and could not do that within the marriage.

The announcement concerns two of the most recognisable figures in modern tennis. Svitolina is listed as the world No. 6 in the report, while Monfils, 40, had previously planned to retire at the end of the season. Their family circumstances have been a notable part of their public tennis careers, and Svitolina’s statement placed the focus firmly on their daughter and their continued role as her parents.

“Together, we built a beautiful life, and we were given the most precious gift of all, our daughter, Skai,” Svitolina 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.”

Monfils is now listed by tennis’ drug-testing organization among players who have declared themselves retired, with his career officially over from Oct. 5. The report noted that he had been expected to finish his career in front of home fans at the Paris Masters, scheduled from Oct. 31.

Monfils’ retirement status

The former world No. 6 had planned to retire at the end of the season, according to the report. It also said that the end of the marriage might have played a role in his decision to conclude his career earlier than expected, though no direct statement from Monfils on that point was included.

For Svitolina, the message was a deeply personal one rather than a sporting update. Her words acknowledged Monfils’ support during a difficult period while also setting out her decision to step away from the marriage. The couple’s shared priority, she said, is Skai, with both parents committed to being present throughout their daughter’s life.