After the divorce backlash, Elina Svitolina issues another confusing explanation
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has issued another explanation following the backlash and confusion surrounding her announcement that her marriage to French tennis player Gael Monfils was over. However, her latest statement raised more questions rather than clarifying the situation entirely.
While Svitolina stressed that several personal factors, not just the war in Ukraine, influenced her decision, she continued to keep the details of the circumstances of their marriage under wraps. Her first clarification left room for confusionand her second also proved difficult to interpret, especially when she acknowledged that Monfils faced charges he did not deserve.
In her latest Instagram post, Svitolina explained that her original announcement did not give the full picture. “I just want to clarify my previous post a bit because I realized that not everyone, especially my international audience, fully understood what I was trying to say,” she wrote.
She added that the emotional toll of living through the war changed her outlook on life, but insisted it was just one part of a much bigger personal decision. “In this post, I have shared only one of the reasons that influenced my decision and made me think about my life and my future. But the truth is that there is much more to it and it was never just about one thing.”
THE WAR CHANGED HER OUTLOOK
Svitolina’s first statement on Monday focused heavily on the psychological impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine. She explained that experiencing the conflict changed her outlook on life and made her reevaluate her priorities.
In her clarification on Tuesday, Svitolina elaborated on how living through the war for more than four and a half years has affected her perspective. “When you live the reality of war for more than 4.5 years, experiencing so many different situations, emotions and difficult moments, you naturally begin to see life differently. Your perspective, your values and priorities change and you begin to understand what you really want from life,” she wrote.
She further explained that her decision came after she realized that she could no longer live unhappily. “At some point, I just realized that I didn’t want to continue living a life where I wasn’t truly happy. And believe me, coming to that decision was anything but easy.”
Although the notes offer additional context, they do not explain what other factors contributed to the split, leaving some questions surrounding the decision unanswered.
I LOVE AND RESPECT MY HUSBAND
Svitolina also addressed the criticism surrounding Monfils, who has ended his professional tennis career earlier than originally planned. The Frenchman had intended to retire at the end of the 2026 season, with a farewell appearance at the Paris Masters set to be part of his final chapter. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) lists his retirement date as 5 October 2026.
Svitolina said she wanted to show that her husband deserves respect despite their separation. “I love and respect my husband so much. And I will always love and appreciate him for who he is. That’s why it was so important for me to be honest, both with him and with myself,” she wrote.
She also addressed the connection between their personal situation and Monfils’ sudden retirement, explaining that some aspects of their separation will remain private.
“It’s not always possible to explain everything behind such personal and difficult decisions in a single post. And frankly, some things are just too personal to share publicly.”
“That was and is my view on announcing the end of our marriage, but as some of you have seen, Gael’s career came to an abrupt end after he decided to quit based on our situation. Unfortunately, a lot of accusations were made against him and he didn’t deserve it, so we released a statement together.”
SEARCH PRIVACY OF MEANS
Svitolina ended her clarification by asking the public to show compassion as the couple go through a difficult time.
“I just hope this helps you understand a little better what I was trying to say, but please be kind and understanding, it’s incredibly hard for both of us right now,” she added.
Svitolina and Monfils began their relationship in 2019 and married in July 2021. Their daughter Skai was born in October 2022. They had been together for approximately seven years and married for just over five years when they announced their separation in October 2026. Despite the end of their marriage, Svitolina emphasized that their daughter will remain their priority and that their family bond will continue.
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