Svitolina and Monfils split as Ukrainian star reveals war’s hidden emotional toll

World number six Elina Svitolina said on Monday that she and former tennis player Gael Monfils were ending their marriage, with the Ukrainian adding that the emotional toll of Russia’s war in her homeland left her needing to rediscover herself.

The couple married in July 2021 and welcomed a daughter, Skai, in October 2022.

Announcing the separation in an Instagram post, Svitolina described the personal struggles she has faced since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the impact they had on her life away from the tennis court.

“This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share,” Svitolina wrote. “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 wasn’t in the right emotional space. Today, I want to open up a little more. What you didn’t see were the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing myself.

“Gael 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.”

Svitolina asked for kindness and privacy as the family navigates the separation, stressing there was no one to blame.

“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,” the 32-year-old Australian Open semi-finalist added.

“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. Gael has loved me through my greatest joys and my darkest moments, and I have loved him with all my heart...

“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...

“There are only two people who loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape.”

On the court, four-times Grand Slam semi-finalist Svitolina recently secured her place at the season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells, California.

Frenchman Monfils, 40, a former world number six and one of the most charismatic players of his generation, has retired from professional tennis.

He planned to retire at the end of 2026 and bid farewell at November’s Paris Masters but the ITIA now lists him as retired.

Kartal jumps 121 places to become British No.1: Sonay Kartal jumped a massive 121 spots after a stellar final appearance in the Wuhan in the latest WTA rankings update on Monday.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina achieved a career-high of World No.13 in the latest ATP rankings after his Shanghai Masters win.

Kartal, who came into the WTA Masters 1000 event with a ranking of World No.170, has now reached No.49 for her final appearance. She is now the No.1-ranked British player in the world, overtaking compatriot Katie Boulter, who is now No.59.

Wuhan Open winner Maja Chwalinska has jumped 11 places to reach a career high of No.11 in the WTA rankings after she won her maiden WTA 1000 title.

There are no movements in the top 10 of the WTA rankings, with Elena Rybakina holding the top spot from former No.1 Aryna Sabalenka, who stays No.2.

Davidovich Fokina defeated Rafael Jodar in the Shanghai final on Sunday to clinch his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title. For his stellar run, he has jumped 13 places from No.26 to reach a new career-high of No. 13, according to the rankings update.

Serb icon Novak Djokovic fell out of the top 10 as he dropped four places from No.8 to No.12 in the rankings. He lost to Hubert Hurkacz in the round of 64 in Shanghai.

There were more changes to the top 10 as Daniil Medvedev moved a place up to reach World No.5, following his run to the Shanghai semi-finals.

Alexander Zverev has moved closer to the World No.1 spot after making it to the semi-final in Shanghai.

He has gained 400 points for his last four appearance and now has 10,070 points to his name, with Jannik Sinner still No.1 with 10,950 points.

Zverev has already secured a year-end No.1 ranking and is set to become the top-ranked player in Vienna if he reaches the semi-final there. Sinner has pulled out of the season due to a knee injury.

Agencies