Gael Monfils defends Elina Svitolina after split and attacks online criticism

Gael Monfils has defended Elina Svitolina against online criticism following their decision to split, urging fans to respect their privacy and recognize that there is more to their relationship than what they share publicly.

In a statement posted on Instagram, the French tennis star slammed the backlash against Svitolina after she spoke about the reasons behind the split, describing some of the comments directed at her as “unkind at best and vitriolic at worst”.

Monfils said the public’s interest in his happiness was accompanied by a lack of consideration for Svitolin. He argued that people from the social media post failed to fully understand the circumstances of their decision.

“While some may not understand or agree with her reasons, please keep in mind that there is much more going on behind the scenes in the relationship that cannot be explained in the post,” he wrote.

The 39-year-old added that the separation will not end their family bond and the two will continue to support each other as parents to their daughter Skai.

MONFILS CASTLE SVITOLINA

Monfils acknowledged the split was painful but said he respected Svitolina’s decision. He also credited the Ukrainian with supporting him through difficult times in his tennis career, including when injuries and self-doubt left him considering retirement.

“When I was ready to quit tennis, she encouraged me to continue,” Monfils wrote, adding that their daughter was his greatest achievement in life.

He also objected to a review of Svitolina’s explanation that she was not required to publicly justify her decision. According to Monfils, she decided to openly discuss the separation only to face criticism from people who felt her explanation was inadequate.

The Frenchman encouraged fans to look beyond their public identity and recognize individuals who are dealing with a difficult personal transition.

“As we move through this new chapter, I would like to ask everyone to remember that we are all only human: not Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, but Gael and Elina. Not perfect, but we are trying our best,” he added.

SEPARATION AND RETIREMENT

The statement follows days of speculation about the circumstances surrounding the couple’s split, especially after Svitolina addressed the backlash to her first announcement.

In an earlier post on Instagram, the Ukrainian said the emotional loss of Russia’s war against her country had changed her outlook on life, but stressed that it was only one of several factors behind her decision.

“I just want to clarify my previous post a little because I realized that not everyone, especially my international audience, fully understood what I was trying to say,” she wrote, adding that the decision was “never just about one thing.”

Svitolina also defended Monfils against criticism after his sudden retirement from professional tennis. She said their situation is more complicated than a single public statement could explain, and that some aspects of their separation will remain private.

The circumstances surrounding Monfils’ departure subsequently attracted attention after French newspaper L’Equipe reported that he learned of Svitolina’s decision to end their marriage during a phone call in late September. According to the report, Monfils was at home in Dubai with their daughter when Svitolina, who was traveling to China, informed him of her decision.

Monfils announced in October 2025 that the 2026 season would be his last on the professional tour. However, his retirement was noted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency on October 5, weeks before he was expected to play his planned farewell tournaments in Lyon, Vienna and Paris. L’Equipe reported that personal upheaval may have contributed to his decision to end his career earlier than planned.

Monfils and Svitolina married in July 2021 and welcomed their daughter Skai in October 2022. Despite the separation, the two stressed that they will continue to support each other as they navigate the next chapter of their lives.

Monfils’ latest statement makes his position clear: he respects Svitolina’s decision and wants the criticism surrounding their split to stop, while keeping the private details of their relationship out of the public debate.

– The end