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Svitolina Ends Marriage Amidst War's Toll
19 Oct
Summary
- Svitolina cites war's emotional toll for marriage end.
- She emphasizes needing to find herself again.
- She and Monfils will remain co-parents to their daughter.
Tennis star Elina Svitolina has announced the dissolution of her five-year marriage to fellow player Gaël Monfils. Svitolina, 32, revealed in a joint statement on Monday that the ongoing war in her native Ukraine has taken a significant emotional and mental toll, leading her to conclude she needed to find herself again outside of their relationship. She acknowledged Monfils' support throughout their struggles but stated that some battles are internal and cannot be won with external love alone.
Despite the separation, Svitolina, 40, and Monfils expressed their commitment to remaining united as parents for their daughter, Skai. Their relationship began in 2018, and they married in July 2021. The couple recently competed together in mixed doubles, reaching the US Open semifinals in August. Monfils has reportedly retired from professional tennis, with his last listed match being October 5, 2026, and withdrew from an ATP event this week for personal reasons.
Svitolina has been vocal about the impact of the war on her mental state, previously taking time off in September 2025 due to emotional exhaustion. She has actively fundraised for Ukraine, raising over $1 million for war-affected youth. Svitolina has also maintained a stance of not shaking hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents since 2022.
