Elina Svitolina says Ukraine war’s emotional impact led to end of marriage with Gaël Monfils

Elina Svitolina announced on Instagram on 19 October 2026 that her marriage to Gaël Monfils has ended, attributing the decision to the emotional toll of the war in her native Ukraine.

Svitolina, 32, who is ranked number six in the world, said in the post that the conflict had affected her deeply and that she needed to “find my way back to myself”. The pair, who married in 2021, played mixed doubles together at this year’s US Open and reached the semi-finals. They have one daughter, Skai, who is four years old. Svitolina grew up in Odesa, a Ukrainian Black Sea port city the article describes as having been heavily bombed.

In her Instagram message Svitolina said she felt she could not recover her sense of self within the marriage and thanked Monfils for his support, writing that he “listened” and “respected what I need with a strength and grace I will never forget”. The four-time Grand Slam semi-finalist added: “Some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you.” She called the announcement “the hardest thing I have ever had to tell the person I love”.

On the war, Svitolina wrote: “Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me.” She described private struggles linked to the conflict, saying: “What you didn't see were the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing myself.” The article notes Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Addressing family arrangements, Svitolina said her daughter “will always come first” and added that “our marriage is ending, but our family is not.” The statement reiterated the priority she places on their child amid the separation.

The article reports Monfils, 40, a former world number six who won 13 titles on the ATP Tour and is a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, had been expected to play what was described as the final tournament of his career at next month’s Paris Masters. It also says he appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Authority’s list of retired players last week and is preparing to start a new career in finance after joining a Swiss wealth management firm.

His appearance on the ITIA retired players list effectively confirmed his retirement, the article adds, noting that once a player removes themselves from anti-doping protocols they are not eligible to compete in professional tournaments.