Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils have announced the end of their five-year marriage, with the Ukrainian tennis star attributing the separation largely to the emotional and mental toll caused by Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The announcement was made on Monday through a joint statement posted on their social media accounts.

Svitolina, 32, described enduring significant internal struggles marked by sleepless nights and a sense of losing herself despite Monfils’s unwavering support. She explained that, after a long period of fighting together, she came to realize that she needed to find her own path independently, a process she felt could no longer take place within their marriage.

“Gaël saw all of it,” she said. “He never let go of my hand. We fought through this together for a long time, with everything we had. But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you.” The couple began their relationship in 2018, married in Switzerland in 2021, and share a daughter, Skai, born in 2022. Svitolina emphasized their commitment to co-parenting their child, stating their family remains intact despite the end of their marriage.

The couple had continued to compete together on court recently, notably reaching the semifinals of the U.S. Open mixed doubles in August. Monfils, 40, a former world No. 6 from France, had been expected to retire in 2026, though tennis authorities now list him as retired as of early October.

Svitolina’s struggles have been closely linked to the broader context of the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 and has resulted in significant casualties. Svitolina has been an outspoken advocate for Ukraine, raising over $1 million through her charitable foundation supporting young people affected by the conflict and serving as an ambassador for the United24 fundraising initiative backed by the Ukrainian government.

Her connection to the war has also been reflected in her professional conduct. Since 2022, she, along with other Ukrainian players on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, has refused to engage in postmatch handshakes with Russian and Belarusian opponents, countries aligned with Russia in the conflict. She has publicly shared the emotional burden the war has placed on her, including fears for her family’s safety in Kyiv.

Svitolina’s emotional state led her to end her 2025 season prematurely following Ukraine’s defeat by Italy in the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals. Monfils had spoken in support of her decision at the Australian Open earlier this year, describing the couple and her family’s understanding of her need for a break.

Despite these challenges, Svitolina made a strong return to competition this year. She secured a victory at the Auckland Classic in January, reached her first Australian Open semifinal, and won the Italian Open in May, marking her 20th WTA singles title. She also qualified for this year’s WTA Tour Finals, the sport’s season-ending event featuring the top-ranked players.

In their joint announcement, Svitolina stressed that neither party was at fault for the separation, describing their evolving relationship as a story “changing shape” and requesting privacy as they work through their personal transitions.