Gael Monfils says separation from Elina Svitolina has affected his tennis and his health

Gael Monfils has spoken about his separation from Elina Svitolina after the pair publicly confirmed they had ended their marriage, according to a Yahoo Sports report published on October 27, 2026. Monfils said the split has affected him emotionally and contributed to the decision that ended his professional tennis career earlier than he had planned.

What the players said about the separation

Svitolina announced the separation and described it as the most difficult thing she had ever had to share, according to the report. She said she and Monfils remain on good terms and will continue to co-parent their daughter, Skaï.

The report says Svitolina also pointed to the strain caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine as part of the emotional burden she has been carrying. Monfils later defended her on social media, saying they remain a family even though they are no longer a couple and urging people not to judge her harshly based on limited public information.

Monfils links the split to his decision to stop playing

According to the report, Monfils had already withdrawn from the ITIA anti-doping testing pool earlier this month, which brought his professional career to an abrupt end. That move came before he was able to play the final tournaments he had planned, including events in Lyon and Paris.

In a livestream, Monfils said the separation made it hard for him to train and compete at the level he wanted. He said he was not at his best mentally and was struggling with basic routines as he tried to manage the breakup and think about life after tennis.

Monfils’ comments, as reported

“I can’t train the way I want, I’m not at my best mentally.”

“I’m eating less, I’m doing everything less well.”

He added that stepping onto the court near the end of a career is already difficult, and that dealing with unfamiliar emotions while also facing an uncertain future made it impossible for him to continue playing as planned.

Why this matters to tennis fans

Monfils and Svitolina are two of tennis’s best-known active players, so their separation has drawn public attention well beyond their own sport. The report says the news has also become part of the story of Monfils’ career ending sooner than expected, with personal matters and professional decisions unfolding at the same time.

• Monfils and Svitolina married in 2021, according to the report.
• They are reported to share a daughter, Skaï.
• Svitolina said the split was difficult but said they would keep co-parenting.
• Monfils said criticism of Svitolina online was unfair and that they remain a family.
• The report says Monfils’ withdrawal from the ITIA testing pool effectively ended his career before his planned final tournaments.

The article says Monfils was expected to be honored at the Paris Masters in a special ceremony, even though he will miss that event. According to the report, that tribute will mark the end of an era for one of tennis’s most recognizable showmen.

Source: Zain Mustafa