Elina Svitolina has announced her separation from Gael Monfils in order to find my way back to myself. Tennis golden couple got married in July 2021 and have one child, Skai.Ukrainian Svitolina posted an emotional message on Instagram this morning in which she announced the shock news and explained it was her decision linked to the ongoing war in her homeland.We built a beautiful life SvitolinaShe wrote: This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share.Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside. Last year, I told you I needed to step away from the court because I wasnt in the right emotional space. Today, I want to open up a little more. What you didnt see were the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing myself.Gal saw all of it. 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. It is the hardest truth I have ever had to face and the hardest thing I have ever had to tell the person I love. Gal listened. He has respected what I need with a strength and grace I will never forget.Gal has loved me through my greatest joys and my darkest moments, and I have loved him with all my heart. Together, we built a beautiful life, and we were given the most precious gift of all, our daughter, Skai.Skai will always come first. Our marriage is ending, but our family is not. We will always be her parents, side by side, at every step of her life.Please know that there is no one to blame here. There are only two people who loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape.We ask for your kindness and for the space we need to heal.Monfils seemingly brings forward retirementMonfils future on the court has been shrouded in uncertainty. He had previously announced he would retire at the end of the season and received a wild card for the ATP Masters in Paris at which it was expected he would say his farewells.But his name appeared on the list of retired players maintained by the International Tennis Integrity Agency and pulled out of this weeks Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhne-Alpes citing personal reasons.The 40-year-old is expected to go into the business world and work in wealth management.Svitolina, 32, is ranked number six in the world. Topics Elina Svitolina If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Sevilla boss claims Real Madrid star Guler escaped red card to keep title race close ahead of Clasico Jon Fisher 19th October, 2026 Real Madrid 4-1 Sevilla: Mbappe scores twice after lucky Guler avoids red card Jon Fisher 18th October, 2026 LIVE Real Madrid v Sevilla: Commentary, updates, goals and stats as Mbappe nets double after Guler opener Jon Fisher 18th October, 2026 WATCH: Real Madrid v Sevilla live Guler escapes red for elbow and then scores lovely opener with Mbappe adding second Jon Fisher 18th October, 2026 Madueke hails Arsenals absurd strength in depth after grabbing late winner at Nottingham Forest Jon Fisher 18th October, 2026 European round-up: Bayern Munich stay top after Freiburg beaten at Leverkusen Jon Fisher 18th October, 2026
