Gaël Monfils defends Elina Svitolina after ‘venomous’ response to divorce announcement

Gaël Monfils has spoken publicly about his divorce from fellow tennis star Elina Svitolina for the first time, labeling the response to Svitolina's announcing of their separation as "unkind at best, and venomous at worst."

Monfils, 40, who retired from tennis earlier than planned as a result of their separation, issued a statement on Instagram Friday, four days after Svitolina, 32, announced the end of their marriage, which she initially attributed to the psychological impact of Russia's invasion of her native Ukraine.

"Even though she did not owe anyone an explanation, Elina chose to speak vulnerably and truthfully about her reasons for this decision. She did so in the best way she knew how," Monfils wrote.

"Many decided that her explanation wasn't perfect enough, and Elina has now faced a kind of criticism that I have found unkind at best, and venomous at worst."

In the original announcement Monday, Svitolina wrote that she had endured sleepless nights, doubts and a feeling of losing herself since Russia's invasion in 2022.

"Gaël saw all of it," she wrote. "He never let go of my hand. We fought through this together for a long time, with everything we had. But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you.

"With time, I came to understand that I need to find my way back to myself and that I cannot do that within our marriage."

In a second statement, released Tuesday, Svitolina suggested that she had not planned to release such a public statement, but did so after Monfils' early retirement, which was confirmed last week, prompted rumors about why he had chosen to curtail his career earlier than November's Paris Masters.

The Frenchman had been scheduled to play at this week's ATP 250 event in Lyon, France, with an exhibition planned alongside countrymen Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon.

"I shared only one of the reasons that influenced my decision to reflect on my life and my future. But the truth is, there's so much more to it, and it was never just about one thing," Svitolina wrote.

The pair married in July 2021 and have a daughter, Skaï, born in October 2022. They reached the U.S. Open mixed doubles semifinals together in August, with Svitolina enjoying one of the best singles seasons of her career following a decision to end her 2025 season early due to burnout caused in part by the impact of Russia's invasion. In his statement issued Friday, Monfils wrote: "Though my heart hurts, I am forever grateful to her for her support and love over the years. When I was ready to quit tennis, she gave me the encouragement I needed to continue."

Monfils also echoed Svitolina's conviction that they remained a family, still have love for each other, and would dedicate themselves to raising their daughter.

"Elina has her battles to fight, just as I have mine. I respect her choices and reasons, and we will continue to support and care deeply about each other, especially as two people who share a child," he wrote.

"As we move through this new chapter, I would ask everyone to remember that we are all just human beings: not Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina, but Gaël and Elina. Imperfect, but trying our best."

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