Elina Svitolina has announced the end of her five-year marriage to fellow tennis star Gaël Monfils, attributing the decision to the emotional and mental impact of Russia's war in her native Ukraine.
Svitolina, 32, said in a statement posted on both players' Instagram profiles on Monday that she had endured sleepless nights, doubts and a feeling of losing herself, even with Monfils' support, before coming to the conclusion that she could not rediscover herself within their marriage.
"Gaël saw all of it," she wrote. "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."
Svitolina's announcement comes a year after she ended her 2025 season early, saying she was not in the right emotional state to compete following Ukraine's Billie Jean King Cup semifinal defeat by Italy. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Svitolina has spoken repeatedly about fearing for family and friends at home while competing overseas.
#herself
Svitolina, 32, said in a statement posted on both players' Instagram profiles on Monday that she had endured sleepless nights, doubts and a feeling of losing herself, even with Monfils' support, before coming to the conclusion that she could not rediscover herself within their marriage.
"Gaël saw all of it," she wrote. "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."
Svitolina's announcement comes a year after she ended her 2025 season early, saying she was not in the right emotional state to compete following Ukraine's Billie Jean King Cup semifinal defeat by Italy. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Svitolina has spoken repeatedly about fearing for family and friends at home while competing overseas.
#herself
2 days ago
