In brief
On Friday, 23 October, Monfils posted a long message defending Svitolina and calling the criticism of her explanation unkind at best and venomous at worst.
The world number six was targeted by hateful messages after the announcement on Monday, 19 October, and the hostility grew once she confirmed that the separation had led Monfils to retire early.
Monfils, 40, had planned to finish at the Paris Masters in November, but his second-round defeat to Learner Tien at the US Open was his last match as a professional.
- 19 OctSvitolina announces the end of the marriage in an Instagram post
- 20 OctSvitolina issues a second statement
- 23 OctMonfils responds with a long Instagram message
The separation announcement
Elina Svitolina announced on Monday, 19 October that she and Gaël Monfils were ending their marriage, which they had entered in July 2021. In a long Instagram post, the world number six wrote that she needed to find her way back to herself and could not do so within the marriage. She linked the strain to sleepless nights, doubts and a feeling of losing herself since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and she said Monfils had never let go of her hand. The couple share a four-year-old daughter. Svitolina issued a second statement on Tuesday, 20 October, saying she had not planned to speak publicly and had done so after Monfils' early retirement prompted rumors about his reasons.
Online hostility
The announcement drew a flood of hateful messages aimed at Svitolina, and the hostility intensified after she confirmed that the separation had led Monfils to retire earlier than planned. Monfils, 40, had intended to end his career at the Paris Masters in November, but his second-round defeat to Learner Tien at the US Open proved to be his last match as a professional. Svitolina, 32, pulled out of the tournament in Ningbo and is set to play the WTA Finals in Indian Wells in November. Her decision to speak publicly was tied, in her own account, to the rumors that followed his retirement.
Monfils breaks his silence
On Friday, 23 October, Monfils posted a long message on Instagram, illustrated with a photo of Svitolina, in which he called the criticism unkind at best and venomous at worst. He said the couple had always shared their difficulties publicly, citing a run of injuries and self-doubt for himself and the destruction and suffering in her country for Svitolina. He also said he found the lack of grace and kindness shown towards her upsetting. Monfils defended her explanation as honest and made clear that he would not second-guess her reasons.
“Even though she did not owe anyone an explanation, Elina chose to speak vulnerably and truthfully about her reasons for this decision.”
He closed by asking the public to remember how much happens inside a relationship that a single post cannot explain, and he said the couple would keep supporting each other, especially as two people who share a child.
“Elina and I may no longer be a couple, but we are still a family.”
Careers and farewell
Monfils and Svitolina reached the US Open mixed doubles semifinals together in August. Svitolina had one of the best singles seasons of her career after ending her 2025 season early because of burnout, which was partly linked to the invasion of Ukraine. Stan Wawrinka revealed that Monfils has agreed to take part in an exhibition in Geneva in December, marking Wawrinka's own farewell, alongside Roger Federer and Andy Murray. Monfils had also been scheduled to play an exhibition at an ATP 250 event in Lyon alongside Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon.