Elina Svitolina Honors Gaël Monfils at Roland-Garros as He Nears Retirement

Elina Svitolina recently expressed her admiration for her husband, Gaël Monfils, in an open letter addressed to their three-year-old daughter, Skaï. The letter, published in The Player’s Tribune, paid tribute to Monfils ahead of his final French Open at Roland-Garros.

Last October, the 39-year-old Monfils had announced on Instagram his intention to retire at the conclusion of the 2026 tennis season. Svitolina’s letter highlighted his exceptional ability to connect with people through his talent. “Because your dad, in just one shot, one moment, he could achieve what I think few athletes ever achieve,” Svitolina noted, emphasizing his unique impact on audiences.

In this year’s French Open, Monfils was defeated in his opening match by Hugo Gaston, another French player, in a challenging five-set match. Despite the loss, emotions ran high on the famous clay court. Monfils publicly expressed his gratitude to Svitolina after the match, saying, “I would like to thank my wife because without her, I maybe wouldn’t be still here tonight.” He praised their eight-year relationship, acknowledging her unwavering support and the joy of their daughter.

Svitolina, who recently broke an eight-year tournament victory drought by winning the Italian Open, was visibly moved, smiling through tears at Monfils’ heartfelt words.

Following his match, Monfils shared with the press that his team requested a wild card entry for Wimbledon. However, he showed humility, stating, “I feel like a lot of guys deserve it maybe more than me, so I’ll wait and see. But, hopefully, [I’ll play] Wimbledon.”

In January 2025, Monfils marked a milestone by becoming the oldest player to capture an ATP Tour title with his victory in Auckland. He has accumulated 13 tour titles throughout his career, with his highest achievement at Roland-Garros being a semifinal appearance in 2008, where he lost to Roger Federer.