Gaël Monfils Defends Ex-Wife Elina Svitolina Following Divorce and Early Retirement
Gaël Monfils has defended his ex-wife Elina Svitolina on Instagram after she faced harsh criticism for linking their divorce to the emotional toll of the war in Ukraine. The French tennis star also confirmed his early retirement from the sport.
French tennis star Gaël Monfils has broken his silence following his separation from Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, stepping forward to defend his ex-wife against harsh criticism on social media. The 40-year-old athlete published a personal statement on Instagram addressing the backlash Svitolina faced after she linked their split to the emotional toll of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Svitolina, 32, announced the divorce earlier this week, explaining that the psychological weight of the conflict since February 2022 had heavily impacted her mental well-being and marriage. While her comments drew a wave of criticism from observers who accused her of blaming the war for the marital breakdown, Monfils firmly defended her sincerity. "Although she did not owe anyone an explanation, Elina chose to speak with honesty and vulnerability about the reasons that led her to this decision," Monfils wrote.
Following the split, Monfils decided to bring forward his retirement from professional tennis, canceling his scheduled appearance at the tournament in Lyon and a planned farewell exhibition match alongside French tennis figures. Reflecting on their relationship and the mutual support they shared over the years, the French player expressed enduring gratitude toward his ex-wife.
Married in July 2021, the couple welcomed their daughter, Skai, in October 2022 and remained one of the most prominent duos in professional tennis. Concluding his statement, Monfils emphasized that despite the end of their marriage, the two will maintain a close bond focused on raising their daughter. "As we enter this new chapter, I ask everyone to remember that we are simply human beings, trying to do the best we can," he stated.
