Gael Monfils Abruptly Retires from Tennis Following Split from Elina Svitolina
The French tennis star cited the end of his marriage to Elina Svitolina as the reason for his immediate retirement, stating the sport had lost all meaning.
Gael Monfils has abruptly retired from professional tennis, with the sport reportedly having "lost all meaning" following the decision of his wife, Elina Svitolina, to end their marriage. The French player's retirement was confirmed after Svitolina, a fellow tennis star, announced their separation on Monday.
Svitolina cited the devastating toll Russia's war in Ukraine has taken on her mental health as the reason for the split. The couple, who had been together since 2018 and married three years later, share a four-year-old daughter. Svitolina emphasized that their child will remain their top priority as they navigate their separation.
According to French newspaper L'Equipe, the news of the divorce significantly impacted Monfils, leading him to bring forward his retirement plans. The publication stated that the news "hit him like a ton of bricks" and that Monfils felt he was "no longer able to play."
Tennis fans had been surprised when Monfils was listed as inactive on a retired players list maintained by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which prevents him from participating in professional events. Monfils had previously announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2026 season, with the Paris Masters in November anticipated to be his final tournament.
He had also been expected to participate in an exhibition match at the ATP 250 event in Lyon this week, alongside former French players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon, and Richard Gasquet. However, organizers confirmed his withdrawal for "personal reasons," with Lucas Pouille taking his place.
Monfils's career officially concluded at the US Open in September, where he was defeated in the second round. Following that match, he reflected on his time on tour, stating, "I think I have been the same since I came on tour, with a lot of joy. The most important for me is how my family lived all these years and how they will remember this ride was unbelievable."
Monfils, often regarded as one of the best players never to win a major title, had competed in the mixed doubles at the US Open with Svitolina. He reached a career-high ranking of world No. 6 and advanced to two Grand Slam semifinals in 2008 and 2016. He has announced plans to pursue a career in finance after joining a Swiss management firm.
In her social media announcement, Svitolina shared a personal reflection on the war's impact on her mental well-being, writing, "This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share. Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside. 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. Please know that there is no one to blame here. There are only two people who loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape."
Svitolina, currently ranked world No. 6, recently qualified for the season-ending Women's Tennis Association Finals.