KYIV : Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina said on Monday she and former French tennis player Gael Monfils were ending their marriage, saying the emotional impact of Russia’s war in her homeland had left her needing to rediscover herself.
The couple married in July 2021 and have a daughter, Skai, born in October 2022.
In an Instagram post, Svitolina described the personal struggles she had faced since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and how they had affected her life beyond tennis.
“What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside,” the world number six wrote, describing sleepless nights, doubts and a feeling that she was gradually losing herself.
Svitolina said Monfils had supported her through the difficult period and that they had tried to work through their challenges together. But she said she had come to understand that she needed to find her way back to herself outside their marriage.
She asked for kindness and privacy as the family navigates the separation, saying there was no one to blame.
“Our marriage is ending, but our family is not,” Svitolina wrote, adding that their daughter would remain their priority and that they would continue to raise her together.
On court, Svitolina recently qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals, to be held in Indian Wells, California.
Monfils, 40, a former world number six known for his athleticism and flair, has retired from professional tennis, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency. He had planned to end his career after the 2026 season and was expected to make his farewell at the Paris Masters in November.
