Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils Announce Their Separation

One of tennis' best-loved couples has separated. Svitolina opened up about the reasons in an emotional message.

Published Oct 24, 2026 · 1 min read

One of tennis' most popular couples is going their separate ways. Elina Svitolina announced the end of her marriage to fellow tennis star Gaël Monfils, describing it on Instagram as "the most difficult thing I have ever had to share."

The Announcement

Svitolina, the world No. 6, shared the news in a heartfelt post. She and Monfils married in 2021 and have one child together. For years they were one of the most visible couples on tour, supporting each other from the stands at the biggest tournaments.

The Toll of the War in Ukraine

Svitolina, who is Ukrainian, said the emotional toll of the war in Ukraine played a part in the separation. She has been one of the most prominent voices for her country in sport since the invasion began, raising money and awareness while continuing to compete at the highest level. The strain of that, she indicated, affected her personal life.

Monfils Steps Away

The news comes shortly after Monfils' agency listed him as retired, earlier than many expected and seemingly ruling out a farewell appearance in Paris. The Frenchman has long been one of the sport's great entertainers, famous for his athleticism and showmanship.

Svitolina's Season

On court, Svitolina has had a strong year. She qualified for the WTA Finals, which will be held at Indian Wells, California, from November 8 to 15. Read our full guide to the WTA Finals 2026 field. She was upset by Britain's Sonay Kartal at the Wuhan Open, one of the best wins of Kartal's career.

Elina Svitolina

Elina Mykhailivna Svitolina (Ukrainian: Еліна Михайлівна Світоліна, pronounced [eˈl⁽ʲ⁾inɐ s⁽ʲ⁾wiˈtɔl⁽ʲ⁾inɐ]; born 12 September 1994) is a Ukrainian professional tennis player. She has career-high rankings of world No. 3 in singles and No. 108 in doubles from the WTA. Svitolina has won 20 WTA Tour singles titles, including the 2018 WTA Finals and five WTA 1000-level tournaments, and has reached four major semifinals.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0