Not every love story makes it till death do us part, as Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils announce that their marriage has come to an end.
The world No.6 shared the news on her Instagram page, explaining that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has taken a significant mental and emotional toll on her. She has now decided to put herself first and focus on rediscovering herself.
“This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share.
“Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside. Last year, I told you I needed to step away from the court because I wasn’t in the right emotional space.
“Today, I want to open up a little more. What you didn’t see were the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing myself.
“Gaël 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. It is the hardest truth I have ever had to face and the hardest thing I have ever had to tell the person I love. Gaël listened. He has respected what I need with a strength and grace I will never forget.
“Gaël 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.
“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.
“Please know that there is no one to blame here. There are only two people who loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape.
“We ask for your kindness and for the space we need to heal”.
Svitolina and Monfils’ love story began in 2018 when the two tennis stars connected in the city of love, Paris, after Elina won the WTA Finals in Singapore. Gael invited her to join him and his friends for drinks, and what started as a simple meeting soon blossomed into love. The couple quickly became one of tennis’s favourite power couples, sharing fun moments of their relationship on social media.
In April 2021, Gael took Elina on a mountain hike and proposed to her in a beautiful setting surrounded by snowy mountains. She said yes, and just three months later, on July 16, 2021, they tied the knot in Geneva, Switzerland.
On October 15, 2022, they welcomed their daughter, Skai, marking a new chapter as parents.
When it comes to the game of tennis, both partners competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and in 2025, Gael won the singles title at the ASB Classic in Auckland, with Elina following in his footsteps by winning the same tournament this year in 2026. They also teamed up for mixed doubles at the 2026 US Open, allowing fans to see them compete side by side.
