Elina Svitolina recently penned an open letter dedicated to her three-year-old daughter, Skaï, published in The Player’s Tribune. This heartfelt letter also honors her husband, Gaël Monfils, as he prepares for his final appearance at the French Open at Roland-Garros.
Gaël Monfils, at the age of 39, announced his retirement set for the end of the 2026 tennis season through an Instagram post last October. Svitolina reflected on his unique ability to inspire. She wrote, “Because your dad, in just one shot, one moment, he could achieve what I think few athletes ever achieve. He could make people feel something.”
During his final French Open, Monfils faced Hugo Gaston and suffered a loss in an intense five-set match. On the iconic clay court, Monfils expressed gratitude towards Svitolina, saying, “I would like to thank my wife because without her, I maybe wouldn’t be still here tonight.” This message, translated from French by Bastien Fachan, highlighted the couple’s eight years together, the support and love Svitolina has given him, and the joy brought by their daughter.
Svitolina, who recently experienced a victory at the Italian Open, ending an eight-year title drought, responded with a tearful smile. Monfils later shared with the press about his Wimbledon plans, acknowledging the potential wild card entry. He candidly admitted, “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.”
Monfils has achieved remarkable successes throughout his career, including becoming the oldest ATP Tour title winner at the Auckland tournament in January 2025, according to ESPN. His career boasts 13 tour titles, with his most notable performance at Roland-Garros coming when he reached the semifinals in 2008, facing Roger Federer.
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