Elina Svitolina announced her separation from Gaël Monfils on October 19, 2026, ending an eight-year relationship that began in Paris in 2018 and a marriage that produced a daughter, Skai, born in October 2022, La Nación reported.
The War That Eroded the Marriage Behind Closed Doors
The Ukrainian tennis star detailed the toll of the conflict in her homeland in a joint social media announcement shared by both players. While public focus remained on her tennis career and her husband’s support, the interior damage accumulated out of sight. Todos saben lo mucho que Ucrania significa para mí. De lo que rara vez he hablado es del daño que la guerra me ha causado interiormente
, Svitolina stated in her Spanish-language statement published by La Nación. Reuters added in its reporting that the world number six described sleepless nights, lingering doubts, and a gradual erosion of her identity.
Monfils acted as an emotional pillar through the initial phases of the crisis. Svitolina acknowledged that her partner of eight years witnessed the strain firsthand and never let go of her hand. Yet the physical and psychological distance imposed by professional schedules and the ongoing conflict created pressures that neither shared history nor mutual affection could reverse. Reuters noted that the 32-year-old athlete ultimately concluded that no amount of outside love could conquer battles fought in the deepest parts of the self.
Finding The Path Back After Eight Years Together
The relationship dates back to late 2017, when the Ukrainian player and the French athlete first connected before making their partnership public in Paris in 2018. Over the following years, their demanding itineraries across the ATP and WTA tours meant living in separate countries until they managed to establish a shared home. They married in July 2021 and welcomed Skai in October 2022.
Elina Svitolina in tears at the ‘Gael and Friends’ event, honoring her husband Gael Monfils before he plays Roland Garros for the final time. Joy, sadness, all the emotions. 🥹🥹🥹🥹 pic.twitter.com/1lQQBqaVlF
Reflecting on the decision to part ways, Svitolina described it as the hardest truth she had ever faced. Con el tiempo, comprendí que necesito reencontrarme conmigo misma y que no puedo hacerlo dentro de nuestro matrimonio
, she wrote, according to La Nación. Infobae and El Mundo corroborated that the tennis star emphasized the mutual respect shown by Monfils throughout the difficult conversation, praising his strength and grace.
Family Priorities and the Reaction From the Tour
Both athletes stressed that their daughter remains the central focus of this new chapter. MARCA reported that the statement explicitly addressed their ongoing commitment to parenting: Skai siempre será lo primero. Nuestro matrimonio termina, pero nuestra familia no
. The announcement underlined that no third parties were to blame for the split, describing it simply as two people who loved each other deeply while their shared story changed direction.
Colleagues across the professional tennis circuit responded quickly to the news. Players including Naomi Osaka and Fabio Fognini left supportive comments on the social media post, offering hearts and messages of solidarity as the former couple navigated the public announcement. Svitolina recently secured her place at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California, while Monfils, a former world number six with 13 ATP titles, retired from professional competition as documented by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), having planned his farewell around the Paris Masters.
Questions Surrounding the Split
While both players shared the joint statement outlining the emotional toll of the war and the need for individual healing, neither has detailed specific future living arrangements for their daughter Skai or how they will divide their time between their primary residences. The exact timeline for their formal divorce proceedings beyond the social media announcement remains unconfirmed by legal representatives.
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