Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils’ love story: From a brief split to marriage

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils are stars on the tennis court and life partners. What began as a spark between two world-class athletes has become one of tennis's most inspiring love stories. Their journey has seen challenges and triumphs, from a brief breakup to a wedding and the joy of welcoming their daughter Skai.

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Key takeaways

- The couple officially married on 16 July 2021.

- They have a daughter named Skaï.

- Svitolina has won 18 WTA Tour singles titles, including the 2018 WTA Finals.

- Monfils has won 13 ATP Tour singles titles, out of 35 finals contested.

Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils' profile summaries

Full name | Gaël Sébastien Monfils | Elina Mykhailivna Svitolina |

Gender | Male | Female |

Date of birth | 1 September 1986 | 12 September 1994 |

Age | 39 years old (as of 2026) | 31 years old (as of 2026) |

Zodiac sign | Virgo | Virgo |

Place of birth | Paris, France | Odesa, Ukraine |

Current residence | London, Monaco, and Odesa (Ukraine) | London, Monaco, and Odesa (Ukraine) |

Nationality | French | Ukrainian |

Ethnicity | Mixed | Mixed |

Religion | Christianity | Jewish |

Height | 6 feet 4 inches (193cm/1.93m) | 5 feet 9 inches (174cm/1.74m) |

Weight | 187 lbs (85kgs) | 132 lbs (60 kgs) |

Eye colour | Brown | Brown |

Hair colour | Black | Brown |

Father | Rufin Monfils | Mikhaylo Svitolin |

Mother | Sylvette Cartesse | Olena Svitolina |

Sexuality | Straight | Straight |

Relationship status | Married | Married |

Spouse | Elina Svitolina | Gaël Monfils |

Children | 1 | 1 |

Profession | Tennis player | Tennis player |

Net worth | $10 million | $10 million - $12 million |

Social media |

Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils' love story

Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils are more than just tennis stars. They are a couple whose love story has captured the hearts of fans worldwide. Their journey has been filled with ups and downs, but ultimately blossomed into marriage and parenthood. Here is a look at how their romance unfolded.

How Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils met

The couple crossed paths in Paris, where their connection began. Following Svitolina's victory at the 2018 WTA Finals in Singapore, Monfils asked her to join him and some friends for drinks. Reflecting on it in 2019, Svitolina shared:

I had known Gaël for quite some time, as we constantly participated in the same tournaments. But there was very little communication: he knew that I was in a long relationship. At the end of 2018, after winning the final tournament [in Singapore], I went to celebrate with my Paris friends. I posted a photo on Instagram, and Gaël wrote to me. We met and could no longer part.

Svitolina also explained that they could no longer separate after meeting each other. She noted that it was a fantastic coincidence that both were simultaneously in Paris. At the time, she lived in London, while Gaël, originally from Paris, was based in Geneva.

The couple's brief split

Despite managing to spend time together in the midst of their busy careers, their relationship was short-lived. After two years, the couple announced they were "taking a break." In a joint statement shared online, they explained:

Gael and I have decided to give our relationship a break. The decision was incredibly difficult, because we still have love for each other. But it's just two best friends realising it's time to take some space and help each other live the most joyous, fulfilled lives as possible.

A few months later, the couple rekindled their romance and soon took their relationship to the next level. On 3 April 2021, they revealed their engagement through posts on X (Twitter) and Instagram.

The announcement featured a photo of them together, with Svitolina proudly displaying her three-stone emerald-cut ring against a stunning backdrop of snow-covered mountains.

Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils' wedding

Monfils and Svitolina made their union official on 16 July 2021. The couple added a stylish twist to their wedding by incorporating purple into their outfits. Monfils looked sharp in a purple suit, while Svitolina was stunned by a custom white pantsuit by Virgil Abloh, complete with a flowing purple tulle train at the waist.

Svitolina noted that although their marital status had changed, not much else was different. She explained that, tennis-wise, things remained the same since they still practised together at times, while also trying not to talk too much about the sport. Adding details on how the wedding was, she noted:

We had a very special and amazing wedding in a way that all our families were together. It's very rare for a tennis player to see their whole family together because my parents are in Ukraine. His parents are in France, Guadeloupe, Martinique. Everyone is everywhere.

For me, it's important to have someone who understands what I'm going through. I will have for sure some bad situations where I'm not feeling well off the court, you are struggling with motivation, which is normal for athletes. You are travelling so much. You're away from home, away from your family.

Svitolina and Monfils' child

On 15 October 2022, the couple joyfully announced the birth of their first child, a daughter named Skaï. Monfils shared the news on Instagram, writing:

I had the most amazing night of my life, which ended with the most beautiful gift around 6:00Am. Elina was strong and brave💪🏾🙏🏾I can't t thx enough, my wife and God, for this special moment 🙏🏾Welcome to the world, my little princess SKAÏ ❤️.

After the arrival of their daughter Skaï, Monfils expressed admiration for his wife's comeback to professional tennis. Speaking at a 2024 press conference, the French star remarked:

She’s a great mother first. That’s first. People want to put tennis first but I think she’s a great mother first. This is the most important for me as her husband because of course we are a tennis couple but life is beyond our sport.

Due to their busy schedules, the couple often had to leave their daughter behind while travelling for tournaments. In 2023, they headed to the United States to compete in the US Open.

Svitolina told Tennis Majors that they had once attempted to bring their baby to the French Open, but the experience proved too overwhelming for her.

We spend some time with her. But during the slam, it is very limited time because all the time you wake up, go train, have treatments, media, you have so many things. Then in between her naps is managing your day, your time.

She added:

I don't see her as much as I wish. That's why in the end we decided to leave her at home. We have a team who is taking care of her so she's super safe at home – watching some matches of us playing here in States.

Monfils has also told reporters that his dreams are not about winning tennis tournaments. He explained that he wished to grow old with many children and remain healthy. He shared:

My dream is to be old with a lot of kids and healthy. My dream is to have an unbelievable family. Tennis is cool but my dream is out there.

They have a joint Instagram account

In addition to their individual social media profiles, Monfils and Svitolina run a joint Instagram account. On the page, they post life updates, snapshots of their time together, and even moments with their dog and daughter.

Competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Monfils and Svitolina participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics, returning to the city where their love story began. Representing Ukraine, Svitolina expressed her pride on Facebook, noting that 140 athletes competed during the war. She described them as proof of the bravery and resilience of her nation.

Svitolina's husband, after his match against Italian player Lorenzo Musetti, shared his gratitude on social media. He thanked Paris for the incredible support and joked about the challenges of night sessions at Roland Garros. He said:

Thank you Paris for your incredible support last night to Roland Garros 🙏🏾. Playing night sessions is always an amazing experience (although it's not always easy haha 😂).

Amid the intensity of competition, the couple also found moments of joy, including a playful Instagram video where Svitolina tried speaking French.

What happened with Monfils?

Gaël Monfils is currently playing his final professional season on the ATP Tour, having announced that he will retire at the end of 2026. Now 39 years old, the French fan favourite is going through his emotional farewell tour, having already played his final matches at major events like the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

What did Monfils say about Svitolina?

During an emotional speech at his farewell ceremony at Roland-Garros, Gaël Monfils paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife, Elina Svitolina, thanking her for eight years together, her constant support through tough moments, and for giving him their baby. He credited her with giving him;

"the most beautiful gift in the world"—their daughter, Skaï—before concluding with a direct "I love you!"

Elina and Gaël's net worth

Elina Svitolina's net worth is estimated at $10 million. She accumulated over $25 million in official WTA career prize money alongside major long-term endorsement contracts with brands like Wilson and Rolex.

Gaël Monfils' net worth is $10 million. He earned over $24 million in ATP career prize money, supplemented by high-profile partnerships with brands including Asics and Rolex.

FAQs

- Who are Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils? The couple are professional tennis players. Monfils hails from Paris, France, while Svitolina is from Odesa, Ukraine.

- Are Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina still together? Yes, they are still together, married, and have a daughter named Skaï.

- When was Gaël Monfils' daughter born? Skaï was born on 15 October 2022.

- How many children do Monfils and Svitolina have? Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina have one child together, a daughter named Skaï, who was born on October 15, 2022.

- What is the age difference between Svitolina and Monfils? Their age difference is 8 years. Elina Svitolina's age is 31 years, while Gaël is 39 years old as of 2026.

- What happened between Swiatek and Svitolina? Iga Świątek defeated Elina Svitolina 6–3, 1–6, 6–3 in a hard-fought semifinal match at the National Bank Open in Toronto on August 13, 2026, advancing to her first final of the season.

Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils share a love that is truly one of a kind. They continue to build their careers while raising their daughter, balancing family and sport. Monfils has also expressed his dream of having more children.

Tuko.co.ke published an article about David Hodges and Ashley Terkeurst's relationship. The two dated for some time before getting married on 17 April 2016.

However, they separated in 2020, and their divorce was finalised in 2021. The former couple shares a son, Ryser. Ashley has since remarried Spencer Turnbull, while David's current relationship status remains undisclosed.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Lilian Wanjala (Lifestyle writer) Lilian Wanjala is a content writer who joined Tuko's team in 2022. She graduated in 2018 from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Arts (Communication and Media Studies). She has worked for many periodicals on a variety of topics like biographies, fashion and lifestyle, guides, and other types of content for over five years. She worked for InformationCradle for close to two years before joining Tuko. In 2023, Lilian finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her at wanjalalilian875@gmail.

Kevin Omuya (Lifestyle writer) Kevin Omuya is a professional content writer with over three years of experience. At Legit.ng, he has contributed to extensive research on various topics such as celebrity news, fashion, and biographies. He has also worked as an editor and content creator at SportsCulture and CottageMed. In 2019, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism & Digital Media from KCA University. You can reach him through his email: komuya89@gmail.com

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.