World number six Elina Svitolina has announced her separation from husband Gael Monfils. The 32-year-old Ukrainian shared the news in an emotional Instagram post, detailing the mental toll of Russia’s ongoing war against her country.
Svitolina described experiencing sleepless nights and self-doubt, leading her to realise a need to rediscover herself. She stated she could no longer achieve this within her marriage.
“This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share,” Svitolina wrote, adding that while everyone knows what Ukraine means to her, she has rarely spoken about the internal impact of the war. She further stated that Monfils, 40, has respected her needs.
Svitolina, a four-time Grand Slam semi-finalist, and French former world number six Monfils married in 2021. They have a four-year-old daughter, Skai, who Svitolina said will always come first. She added that while their marriage is ending, their family is not, and there is no one to blame.