Ukraine’s Svitolina says war’s emotional toll ended marriage with Monfils

What happened

The BBC reports Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has publicly announced her separation from husband Gaël Monfils, attributing the split to the emotional toll of the war in Ukraine. Svitolina, ranked world number six, described on Instagram how the conflict has deeply affected her psychologically and contributed to the breakdown of their marriage.

Svitolina wrote that the war has led to a difficult internal struggle, saying she needs to "find my way back to myself," a process she no longer felt able to pursue within the marriage. She credited Monfils with listening and respecting her needs during this challenging period but acknowledged some conflicts are personal battles no amount of external support can resolve.

The couple married in 2021 and share a four-year-old daughter, Skai. Svitolina emphasized that while their marriage is ending, their commitment to co-parenting remains intact, affirming that their daughter will always have priority.

Known from the source

• Elina Svitolina is a Ukrainian tennis player ranked number six in the world.
• Svitolina and Gaël Monfils married in 2021 and have one daughter aged four.
• The couple publicly announced their separation in October 2026.
• Svitolina states the emotional toll of the Ukraine war contributed to the separation.
• Monfils is a retired French tennis player, previously ranked number six globally.

What remains unclear

Monfils, a former French tennis star ranked as high as number six worldwide, recently transitioned away from professional tennis and is now preparing for a career in finance. The war’s indirect impact on his personal life emerges as an example of how the conflict affects Ukrainians and their families even abroad or outside the direct fight zones.

What remains unclear: Confirm no statements contradicting the separation reason or timeline have appeared from Svitolina or Monfils. Verify Monfils’ retirement and new career details from additional sources. Check whether there are new developments regarding their family situation or public commentary on the war's impact on their lives. Ensure all references to emotional impact remain attributed to Svitolina’s Instagram post and the BBC report.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has treated the source material as confirmed within the supplied source context, while retaining attribution to the original publisher.

Original source: BBC Europe Ukraine. Open the source.