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One of sport’s most iconic power couples is coming to an end. Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina have been married for over five years, but the latter has announced they will be getting divorced. The Ukrainian tennis ace announced it was the “most difficult thing” she has ever had to share in a heart-wrenching statement. But what is the reason for their failed marriage? Svitolina opened up about how their relationship broke down and the immense mental toll of the ongoing war in Ukraine being a factor: “Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside. 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. 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.”
Adding: "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. Gael listened. He has respected what I need with a strength and grace I will never forget.”
The pair started dating in 2019 and then decided to tie the knot in 2021. They competed together in mixed tournaments, and even reached the US Open doubles semi-finals earlier this year.
But it will be one of their last public actions as a couple, as their relationship comes to an end. On their journey together, Svitolina remarked: "Gael 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. Thank you for your love.”
Despite the fame and stardom, their relationship origin story is a very modern one. That’s because, like plenty of other couples, they met online.
But it wasn’t until Svitolina shared a post of her in Paris that Monfils decided to make his move. On first meeting the Frenchman, Svitolina said: "We met each other and we could not split anymore.
“It was an amazing coincidence that both of us were in Paris in the same time because I live in London now and Gael, despite he is from Paris, lives in Geneva.”
The pair had a bumpy ride in the early stage of their relationship, and split just two years after they started to date. But in what was turning into quite the love story, the rollercoaster couple shared news of an engagement just months later.
In keeping with the hasty pace at which things were moving, the wedding was signed, sealed and delivered within three months of the engagement. And the two were keen to not let it impact their on-court performances.
She told The Sun: "Tennis-wise nothing really changed. We are still practising sometimes together. Sometimes we try not to talk too much about tennis.
"For me it's important to have someone who understands what I'm going through. I will have for sure some bad situations where I'm not feeling well off the court, you are struggling with motivation, which is normal for athletes. You are travelling so much. You're away from home, away from your family.
"For me to have Gael next to me it's actually very lucky in our situation that we are both at the top of our sport so we are travelling pretty much to the same tournaments. That's really lucky in a way that we found love for each other and we do the same thing. We play tennis. We have the same goals. We're just helping each other in the way that we can help."
Their daughter, Skai, was born not too long after, but fast-forward to autumn 2026, and the two are going their separate ways. Game, set, and now match for one of tennis’ power couples.
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