Elina Svitolina announced Monday that she and Gaël Monfils are separating, describing the emotional strain of Russia’s war in Ukraine and a need to rediscover herself outside their marriage.
The world No. 6 emphasized that their daughter remains their priority. She credited Monfils with supporting her through difficult periods and said neither partner should be blamed.
In a Reuters report carried by Rediff, Svitolina described sleepless nights, self-doubt and a growing sense of losing herself as the war affected her life away from tennis.
The 32-year-old Ukrainian said she had previously stepped away from competition because she was struggling emotionally. Her announcement offered a fuller account of what she had been experiencing.
She said Monfils had faced those difficulties alongside her, but explained that his love and support could not resolve every internal struggle she was dealing with personally.
Svitolina asked for kindness and privacy as the family adjusts. The couple married in July 2021 and welcomed their daughter, Skai, in October 2022, according to the report.
The announcement follows a season in which their professional lives also intersected. Sky Sports reported that they reached the US Open mixed doubles semifinals together earlier this year.
They were stopped in the last four by Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli. That run provided a recent example of the pair competing together on a major stage.
Svitolina has also remained active on the singles tour. She reached the Wuhan Open quarterfinals last week before losing in three sets to Britain’s Sonay Kartal in China.
Her next major season milestone is already secured. Ubitennis reported that she has qualified for the WTA Finals, her first appearance at the event since 2019.
It will be her fourth appearance at the year-end championships. She is also the first mother to qualify for the tournament since Kim Clijsters did so in 2010.
Monfils has been listed as inactive by the International Tennis Integrity Agency since October 5. He had been expected to make a farewell appearance at the Paris Masters.
Ubitennis reported that the Frenchman shared Svitolina’s statement on his own Instagram account without adding further comment. He last competed at the US Open before his retirement status emerged.
For Svitolina, the announcement centered on her own emotional recovery and their continued responsibilities as parents. She stressed that ending their marriage would not end their commitment to family.
