The tennis world is still reeling from the sudden dissolution of its power couple, and Elina Svitolina has just added further intrigue to an already gripping narrative. Intensifying ongoing speculation, the world No. 6 has withdrawn from next week’s Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Coming on the heels of her announcement that her five-year marriage to Gael Monfils is over, the dual schedule collapse of both players late in the tennis season has left fans and insiders wondering what happened.
From the outside, Svitolina and Monfils seemed deeply in love and completely stable. That picture shattered on Monday when Svitolina announced their separation. Rumors quickly spread about how it happened, with reports suggesting she broke the news over the phone. At the time, Svitolina was playing tournaments in China, while Monfils was thousands of miles away in Dubai, caring for their four-year-old daughter, Skai.
The disruption in their upcoming schedules proves this wasn’t a planned decision. Weeks before the official announcement, Monfils abruptly removed his name from the active players list, bringing a sudden end to his legendary tennis career. He skipped his highly anticipated farewell tournaments in Lyon and the Paris Masters. Now, with Svitolina bailing on her own WTA 500 event in Tokyo, it is clear that the breakup was a sudden shock rather than a gradual choice.
In her first public comments, Svitolina pointed to the deep emotional toll of the war in her native Ukraine. The ongoing trauma, she explained, changed her completely and strained her marriage. But as public rumors spun out of control, she clarified that a divorce is never caused by just one thing. She admitted she simply reached a point where she “didn’t want to keep living a life where I wasn’t truly happy.” Still, she has continuously praised Monfils for his incredible understanding and support.
Were they just hiding their problems well, or did something unexpected ruin their marriage overnight? Fans have recently re-shared a clip of Svitolina giving an emotional tribute to Monfils’ career, fighting back tears as she talked about his retirement. Tragically, the immediate fallout of their breakup means Monfils didn’t get the grand farewell he earned.
Before things fell apart, Svitolina spoke of his final year on tour with a hopefulness that now feels heartbreaking:
“It’s going to be very fun and enjoyable last year for you and for us as a family and for all the fans. It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be sad, of course. It’s going to be not easy for me personally. Even now I’m tearing up. I’m very happy to be by your side.”
Svitolina is now expected to return to the court for the season-ending WTA Finals, which kick off on November 8 in Indian Wells. This will be her grand return to the elite year-end tournament, having successfully qualified for the first time since 2019.
