Elina Svitolina & Gael Monfils: How marriage and daughter Skai inspired resurgence
They are one of tennis’ most popular duos.
And Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils have played some of the best tennis of their respective careers in recent years – doing so while married.
The pair tied the knot in 2021 and then welcomed their daughter Skai in 2022, moments that have inspired both the WTA and ATP stars to new heights.
Here, we look at how their life off-court has coincided with impressive achievements on it.
Marriage
Despite playing alongside each other on the WTA and ATP Tours for several years, Svitolina and Monfils did not start dating until 2019.
Noticing former world No 3 Svitolina was in Paris, Monfils – who was also in the city at the time – decided to send the Ukrainian a message.
“I have been knowing Gael for some time because we constantly play the same tournaments,” said Svitolina in a previous interview.
“And in the end of last year, I went celebrating with my friends in Paris. I posted a photo on Instagram and Gael texted me. We met each other and we could not split anymore.”
Svitolina and Monfils quickly became one of the most popular power couples on tour, launching their G.E.M.S Life Instagram.
The pair initially split after two years of dating in 2021 but reunited a few months later – and tied the knot that July.
Just a few weeks after their wedding, Svitolina would go on to win a bronze medal at the Olympic Games.
While Monfils would reach his first final in 20 months at the Sofia Open that October, before winning the Adelaide International in January 2022.
Parenthood
Svitolina and Monfils announced they were expecting their first child in May 2022, with their daughter Skai born that October.
At the Australian Open earlier this week, Monfils – who turns 39 in September – revealed that becoming a father had shifted his goals away from just attaining success on the tennis court.
He said: “I tell you my dream is to have an unbelievable family. Tennis is cool. Of course, you want a gold dream, whatever. But my dream is out there.”
Svitolina and Monfils have largely kept Skai out of the limelight; neither of the pair has posted a picture of her face on social media.
Both have been keen to ensure her privacy and at times have travelled without to ensure she has a stable childhood.
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On-court success
Following maternity leave, Svitolina returned to WTA action at the Charleston Open in 2023.
Svitolina won her first title in almost two years at the Strasbourg International that May, and then reached the quarter-final of the French Open as a wildcard.
That was followed by her reaching her third Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon as a wildcard, beating top seed Iga Swiatek in the last eight.
It cemented a remarkable return to form for the Ukrainian, who had fallen out of the top 10 in 2021 and was unranked at the start of her comeback.
2024 proved more troubling due to injury issues, though she still managed to return to the second week of the French Open and the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Monfils has also had his injury issues, falling outside the top 70 by the end of 2023 – though a run to the Stockholm Open title at the end of the season was a huge positive.
However, he well and truly came into his own in Auckland two weeks ago, becoming the oldest man to win a title since 1977.
The 38-year-old defeated Zizou Bergs to triumph and seal his 13th ATP title.
Australian Open success
The couple have proven to be one of the biggest stories of this year’s Australian Open.
Svitolina, the 28th seed, stunned fourth seed Jasmine Paolini in round three and is now into her 12th Grand Slam quarter-final; she faces 19th seed Madison Keys on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Monfils knocked out fourth seed Taylor Fritz in the men’s draw to reach the second week, though unfortunately had to retire injured in his next match versus Ben Shelton.
The pair have been in each other’s player boxes throughout the tournament, and it seems likely Monfils will be his wife’s chief cheerleader in Melbourne.
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