Couple of goals: Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina train together for the French Open

Tennis power couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina delighted fans ahead of the French Open after the duo trained together during a live practice session at Roland Garros. The husband-wife pair looked in sync on Court Philippe-Chatrier, exchanging clean rallies and enjoying progress to their second Grand Slam of the year.

Svitolina looked sharp throughout, hitting the ball cleanly from the baseline and moving fluidly on the clay. Monfils, meanwhile, looked energetic and comfortable as he entertained the fans with his trademark athletic movement and shooting. Videos and pictures of the practice quickly went viral on social media, with tennis fans calling the pair the ultimate “couple goal”.

LIGHT AND PRIME FORM

The training came at an ideal time for Svitolina, who recently completed one of the most emotional comeback stories on the WTA Tour. The Ukrainian star won the 2026 Italian Open title in Rome after defeating Coco Gauff in a thrilling three-set final. The victory marked her first WTA 1000 title since 2018 and her biggest triumph since becoming a mother in 2022.

Svitolina’s run to the title was particularly impressive as she beat some of the biggest names on the tour, including Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Gauff. The title also boosted her confidence heading into Roland Garros, where she is expected to be one of the dangerous opponents on clay.

ELINA SVITOLINA’S MOMENT CONTINUED BY COCO GAUFF TO WIN HER 3RD ROMAN TITLE.

Beat #2 Elena Rybakina, #3 Iga Swiatek and #4 Coco Gauff back to back.

Motherhood, pressure, time away from tennis, none of it quenched her hunger. It sharpened.

Legend pic.twitter.com/ysEwJUi5F5— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 16, 2026

MONFILS PROUD OF HIS WIFE

Monfils had a hard time hiding his pride after Svitolina’s triumph in Rome. Shortly after the final, the Frenchman posted a heartfelt tribute on social media, calling his wife “What a woman” while praising her incredible comeback and fighting spirit. The emotional post received widespread attention among tennis fans.

The couple have regularly supported each other on tour since their wedding in 2021 and often attend each other’s matches and training sessions. Their bond has become one of the most admired relationships in tennis.

As for Monfils, the French veteran is expected to be one of the crowd favorites at Roland Garros in 2026. Fans are expected to rally behind the charismatic 39-year-old every time he steps onto the court.

Monfils has long been one of the funniest players in world tennis, and a home support at Roland Garros could once again make his matches some of the loudest and most emotional at the tournament.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

May 21, 2026 0:06 AM IST