Svitolina Says Marriage to Monfils Is Ending

Elina Svitolina has announced that her marriage to fellow tennis player Gaël Monfils is ending, saying she needs to find her way back to herself. In a statement posted on Instagram on October 19, Svitolina said their daughter, Skai, would remain their priority and that they would continue raising her together. Svitolina described the announcement as the most difficult thing she had shared publicly. She said the war in Ukraine had taken an emotional toll, including sleepless nights, doubts and a feeling that she was losing herself. She also credited Monfils with supporting her through that period and during a break from tennis when she was not in the right emotional space to compete. Over time, she said, she concluded she could not find her way back to herself within the marriage. Svitolina said Monfils had listened and respected what she needed. She described their daughter as their most precious gift and wrote that, although the marriage was ending, their family was not. She said they would remain Skai’s parents, side by side, and asked for kindness and space to heal. The announcement reflects Svitolina’s account of the decision. The reports reviewed did not include a...