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Gael Monfils has opened up on his decision to suddenly end his career amid his split from Elina Svitolina. The pair had been together for eight years and got married in 2021, welcoming their first daughter in 2022. But earlier this month, it emerged that Monfils had entered retirement on October 5 – before his planned final tournaments in Lyon and Paris. Days later, Svitolina and Monfils announced their split in a joint statement, which was written from Svitolina’s perspective but shared to both of their Instagram accounts. In it, she cited the toll of the Ukraine was as one reason for their separation.
In a second, solo statement, the WTA No. 6 said she wanted to “clarify” her previous message and confirmed that, while they would have kept the reasons for their split private, she also wanted to speak out following incorrect speculations and “accusations” thrown at Monfils following his abrupt retirement.
The Frenchman then shared a message of his own, calling out those who had sent verbal abuse to Svitolina. “While I am deeply grateful that the public feels so invested in my happiness, I have found the lack of grace and kindness shown towards Elina upsetting,” he wrote.
However, he did not address his sudden retirement until Monday evening, when he spoke in a live Twitch stream. During the stream, Monfils shared the toll that their split had taken on him – and why it led him to hang up his racket earlier than planned.
Monfils, himself a former world No. 6, said: “The separation with Elina hurt me a lot. We are human, we have our own problems, and we do not necessarily control what we want. This separation did not leave me without reaction.
“For people who have been in my case, living a breakup is not easy and when it happens, I can’t train as I want, I’m not at my best psychologically. I’m not going to pretend [I am]… I eat less, I do everything less well. I talk to my family and loved ones, and this prompted me to ask myself the question, ‘Am I going to be strong enough, in training, in my preparation?’
“It’s already very hard to get back on the field for the end of your career, with emotions you don’t know, and when you’re also touched, and you have to project yourself, I just didn’t find it possible to play.”
While the 40-year-old was unable to return to the tennis court for his last two tournaments, he confirmed that he would still say farewell at next week’s Paris Masters, just not by playing a match. “Of course I wasn’t going to leave like that,” Monfils added.
“And now I want to thank the family of French tennis that supported me. At the Paris Masters 1000, on Tuesday, November 3, after the first match of the night session, there will be a tribute to my career, a big show, and I will be able to say goodbye to you in person.”
Organisers of the Paris Masters also confirmed the news in a social media post. “One last time, Paris will celebrate Gael,” they wrote.
“On Tuesday, November 3, the Rolex Paris Masters will pay tribute to Gael Monfils and his extraordinary career, on the very court where he penned some of the most beautiful chapters of his story. Join us for the evening session to celebrate La Monf’ in style.”
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