Elina Svitolina to split with fellow tennis star Gael Monfils
Tennis stars Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils have announced their divorce after five years of marriage. Svitolina cited the emotional toll of the war in Ukraine as a primary factor in their decision to separate.
Why it matters
The split of a high-profile sports couple highlights the personal and psychological impacts of geopolitical conflicts on public figures.
Gael Monfils with his wife Elina Svitolina after her singles final win at the ASB Classic. Photo / Photosport
Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, the tennis power couple, have announced that they are to divorce.
They announced their marriage had come to an end via a statement on their respective Instagram profiles, with Svitolina citing a need to “find a way back to myself” after being affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Monfils ended his playing career on October 5 rather than take part in expected farewells in Lyon and at the Paris Masters. Instead, his final match was a second-round defeat at the US Open, the same tournament he and Svitolina paired up for the mixed doubles together where they reached the semi-finals.
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