Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina announced on Monday her separation from Frenchman Gael Monfils, who officially retired from the game on October 5, after five years of marriage.
Svitolina wrote on Instagram, "It is the hardest thing I have ever had to share," in a lengthy message accompanied by a photo of her with Monfils, whom she has been with since 2018 and married in 2021. Svitolina and Monfils have a four-year-old daughter named Sky.
She added, "Our marriage has ended, but our family does not. We will always be her parents, side by side, in every stage of her life." She spoke about the impact of the war in Ukraine on her, stating that she suffered from "white nights, doubts, and the feeling that I was gradually losing myself."
For his part, 40-year-old Monfils has been officially retired since October 5, as listed by the International Tennis Integrity Agency among retired players. He was expected to participate in the Lyon tournament, but organizers announced he would not use his wildcard for personal reasons.
Svitolina noted that Gael witnessed her struggles and never let go of her hand, but she realized her need to find herself again, indicating that she was unable to do so within the framework of her marriage.
Source: Arriyadiyah newspaper
Comments (0)