Sport · World News Bureau
Ukraine war's emotional toll drove Svitolina, Monfils split, says tennis star
Ukrainian tennis champion Elina Svitolina has attributed the breakdown of her marriage to French player Gaël Monfils to the psychological strain of the ongoing conflict in her home country. The pair, who wed in 2021 and share one child, have separated after years together on the professional tennis circuit.
LSN World News ·
Svitolina, one of Ukraine's leading tennis professionals, cited the mounting emotional burden of war as a significant factor in the dissolution of her marriage to Monfils, a veteran competitor on the men's professional tour. The separation marks the end of a high-profile union between two accomplished athletes who rose through the ranks of international tennis.
The couple married in 2021 at the height of their respective careers and welcomed a child during their time together. Their relationship had been closely followed by tennis enthusiasts worldwide as both maintained active participation in major tournaments and rankings competitions.
Svitolina's comments underscore the broader personal challenges faced by Ukrainian athletes since Russia's invasion in February 2022. Many professionals from the country have grappled with competing demands between pursuing their sporting ambitions and the weight of national crisis affecting their families and homeland.
The separation comes as Svitolina continues her professional tennis career, navigating both competitive demands and the complex personal circumstances arising from her nation's ongoing conflict. The details of custody arrangements and other specifics regarding the split have not been publicly disclosed.