In brief
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has declared the end of her marriage to French former top player Gaël Monfils, citing the personal impact of the war in Ukraine. In a moving Instagram post she said the conflict has taken an emotional toll that she cannot live with inside the marriage. The pair, married in 2021, share a four‑year‑old daughter whom Svitolina vowed will remain the family’s priority. Monfils has also confirmed his retirement from professional tennis and is shifting toward a finance career. The announcement underscores how the war’s devastation in places like Svitolina’s native Odesa has affected individuals beyond the battlefield.
Elina Svitolina, the world no.6 Ukrainian tennis star, has announced the end of her marriage to French former top player Gaël Monfils.
In a heartfelt Instagram post Svitolina said the war in her homeland has taken an emotional toll that is impossible to share and recover within a marriage.
She explained that she could not find herself again while living under the weight of conflict, and that resigning was the most difficult thing she had ever had to share.
Svitolina also praised Monfils for listening, respecting her needs with “strength and grace” that will forever stay with her.
They married in 2021 and have a four‑year‑old daughter, Skai, whom Svitolina assured will always come first, highlighting that the family remains intact despite the divorce.
Ukraine’s capital‑prone city of Odesa has endured heavy bombardment by Russia since the February 2022 full‑scale invasion, a reality Svitolina cites as a source of sleepless nights, doubt, and gradual loss of self.
Monfils, a former world no.6 and 13‑title ATP winner, has confirmed his retirement from the professional circuit and is beginning a new career in finance with a Swiss wealth‑management firm.
