Gaël Monfils speaks out with a heartfelt message after his surprising split from Elina Svitolina
Gaël Monfils has opened up for the first time about his split from Elina Svitolina, defending her against the criticism she’s received since they announced their divorce.
On Monday, October 19, Svitolina—the top-ranked Ukrainian tennis player—shared on social media that the ongoing war in her country took a big emotional and mental toll on her, making her feel like she was “slowly losing myself.”
The news came soon after Monfils surprised everyone by retiring early from tennis. He had planned to keep playing until the end of 2026, including a farewell tournament in Lyon, but his last match was actually at the US Open in September.
Then, on Friday, October 23, Monfils posted his first public message since their split. He asked everyone to be more understanding as they both start new chapters in their lives.
He wrote, “Elina and I have always shared our story and family with you all, including both our joys and struggles. I’ve dealt with injuries and doubts, and Elina with the pain her country is going through. Now, we’re separating, and it’s a tough situation full of complicated feelings. But we’re handling it with respect and love that will always remain.”
Monfils also spoke warmly about Elina and their daughter, Skaï, who is now four years old.
“Even though Elina didn’t owe anyone any explanation, she chose to honestly share why we made this decision,” he said. “Some people weren’t kind in their reactions, which was very hurtful to her. We may not be a couple anymore, but we’re still a family. I’m grateful to Elina for her love and support, especially when she encouraged me to keep playing tennis. And she’s the reason for some of my greatest joys—our daughter Skaï being the biggest.”
He finished by asking people to be kind and remember they’re just human.
“I’m thankful the public cares about me, but the harsh words towards Elina have been really upsetting,” he added. “There’s always more to a relationship than what we share publicly. Elina has her own battles, just like I do. I respect her choices and we’ll always support each other, especially as parents.”
Monfils closed with a simple reminder: “We’re not just famous athletes; we’re Gaël and Elina—imperfect, but doing our best.”
The couple first started dating in 2019 after connecting on social media. Monfils proposed in the mountains in April 2021, and they married that July. Their daughter was born in October 2022. Recently, they even played mixed doubles together at the US Open, reaching the semi-finals, which made their divorce even more surprising to fans.
As tennis players, Svitolina has won 20 WTA singles titles and reached four Grand Slam semi-finals, while Monfils reached a career-high world No. 6, winning 13 singles titles before retiring.