Monfils breaks silence on divorce and defends Svitolina against “venomous” criticism

Four days of silence, then a long message. On Friday, Gaël Monfils spoke for the first time since Elina Svitolina announced the end of their marriage on Instagram last Monday. The 40-year-old Frenchman posted a text illustrated with a photo of his former partner, and the subject is never himself: he defends the mother of his daughter.

His target is the criticism aimed at the Ukrainian player since Monday, down to accusations that she had taken advantage of Monfils until his retirement. “Many felt her explanation was not convincing enough, and Elina has had to face criticism that I found, at best, unkind and, at worst, venomous”, he wrote, before recalling that she owed no explanation to anyone: “Elina chose to express herself with sincerity and by showing vulnerability about the reasons that led her to take this decision.” Then a warning: “remember that within a couple, many things happen away from the public eye.”

“We remain a family”

The message speaks of heartbreak, without a word of bitterness. “Elina and I may no longer be a couple, but we remain a family”, wrote Monfils, “eternally grateful” to the woman who shared his life from 2018 and whom he married in July 2021. Their daughter Skaï was born in October 2022. “She is behind some of the greatest victories of my life: our daughter Skaï being the greatest of them all.”

He signs off with his own words: “not Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina, but simply Gaël and Elina. Two imperfect people doing their best.”

One word is missing: retirement

On social media, the divorce has also been presented as the cause of his early retirement, depriving the public of a farewell at the Paris Masters. Friday’s message does not touch the subject: the word retirement never appears once. Monfils has been on the ITIA retired players list since 5 October, and his last match dates back to 3 September, in the second round of the US Open. On his future, the text stays silent.

On court, the season goes on for one of the two: world number six, Svitolina has qualified for the season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells, played from 8 to 15 November. The noise off court will not change her calendar.