Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils are still together. The relationship of the tennis power couple has been stable since they met in 2019 and got married in 2021. They are now blessed with a daughter. Monfils and Svitolina both competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics
Among the most accomplished tennis players in the world, Elina and Gael join the ranks of tennis players who have found love with each other. While Elina is a Ukrainian who was born on 12 September 1994, which means she is now 30 years old, Gael is French. He was born on 1 September 1986 and is now 38 years old. Although a better part of their individual stories revolves around tennis, they both share an interesting love story together.
Elina Svitolina and Gael Monflis are not just professional tennis players but also partners on and off the court. Their relationship evolved and blossomed into a tightly knit family that is widely celebrated by fans around the world.
Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils’ Relationship Timeline: A Tennis Love Story
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | The couple met after Gael Monfils reached out to Elina Svitolina following her WTA Finals win in Singapore. |
| April 3, 2021 | Monfils and Svitolina announced their engagement with a romantic backdrop of snow-covered mountains. |
| July 16, 2021 | The couple got married, both wearing custom outfits by Virgil Abloh. |
| October 15, 2022 | The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Skaï. |
| 2024 | Both competed at the Paris Olympics while continuing to support each other on and off the court. |
Who is Gael Monfils’s Wife?
Gael Monfils’s wife is Elina Svitolina. For someone who has been living in the caves away from sports, she is a tennis star who once rose to the world ranking to No. 3. She was born Elina Mykhailivna Svitolina in Odesa, Ukraine, and was brought up in her home country by her parents, Olena Svitolina and Mikhaylo Svitolin, together with a brother, Yulian Svitolin.
Raised in an athletic family with a father who was a wrestler, a mother who was a competitive rower, and a brother who played tennis as a child, she also started playing tennis when she was only 5.
Having enjoyed a great youth career, she turned pro in 2010, and by 2013, she was already in the top 50 in the world. As of 2023, she had already won as many as 17 career titles and netted in more than $22.8 million in prize money.
The Couple Met and Began Dating in 2019
The love story of Monfils and Elina Svitolina, who are considered to be one of the most loved star couples on the professional tennis circuit, started in 2019. Before then, they knew each other courtesy of their careers as tennis players. The couple revealed that they knew each other just a little but had never really had any contact until the aforementioned year when they got the chance to meet on personal grounds and talk. This happened in Paris.
Monfils revealed that when he got to know that Elina was in Paris, he texted her that he was going out with some friends for a drink, and he wanted her to come along, which she accepted. On her part, she did not want to go because she was just coming from Singapore and was already tired and could hardly stay awake.
After the first date, the couple became very close, earning the title of tennis power couple. They always made posts about each other on their social media pages, keeping fans abreast of their love life.
“I had known Gael for quite some time, as we constantly participated in the same tournaments. But there was very little communication: he knew that I was in a long relationship,” Svitolina said in 2019. “At the end of 2018, after winning the final tournament [in Singapore], I went to celebrate with my Paris friends. I posted a photo on Instagram, and Gael wrote to me. We met and could no longer part.”
An Affectionate Proposal
In April of 2021, It was revealed through a social media post shared by the couple, that Monfills gifted Svitolina a three-stone emerald-cut engagement ring, and popped the question during their mountain getaway. The backdrop of snow-covered mountains made the moment even more special for the couple
Elina Svitolina Has Been Gael Monfils’ Wife Since 2021
Having dated for two years, the lovely couple walked down the aisle in 2021. Only a few months before they got married, they had a short breakup, after which the pair returned to each other and announced their engagement.
Monfils made a post on his Instagram announcing that “she said YES,” accompanied by a picture of her hand with an engagement ring. The French tennis star also added “Madame MONFILS” to the post. The delighted Svitolina also made a post where she wrote: “YES! to the beginning of our forever.”
The Wedding of Two Tennis Titans
Their wedding followed on July 16, 2021 in a small and intimate ceremony in Geneva, Switzerland. The pair both both wore off-white looks by the late designer Virgil Abloh, Svitolina’s outfit, a white pantsuit with a purple tulle skirt, defied traditional wedding norms, symbolizing their unique relationship. Elina shared photos of the event with her over 1 million followers on Instagram, describing it as the best day of her life.
Did Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils split?
No, Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils are still very much together, 3 years after walking down the aisle. From all indications, the couple is enjoying a great marital life thus far with their daughter.
Needless to say, their love story has not been the most problem-free as before they got married, they encountered some challenges that forced them to go their separate ways.
In 2021, two years after they started dating and went public with their relationship, the tennis golden couple announced that they were splitting. In a joint social media post, they announced that they were taking a break from the relationship. The Instagram post went further to indicate that the decision to call it quits was incredibly difficult for them because they were still in love.
The statement came to many as a huge surprise because of how close they were and also very supportive of each other. According to them, the separation was because they were best friends who realized they needed to take a little space from each other to help them live the most joyous and fulfilled lives. They made it clear that they were not going to comment further on the separation.
After the breakup, they deleted their joint Instagram account, G.E.M.S Life, which signaled the final demise of the relationship. Fortunately, this was not to be as in a not-too-distant time, they returned to each other and got married. Their joint Instagram account was since brought back to life and there has been no news of splitting again.
Welcoming Their First Child
The union between Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils is blessed with a daughter whose name is Skaï. The tennis power couple first announced to fans that they were expecting their first child together, a baby girl, in May 2022. Gael took to his Twitter, now X, to break the news to followers that they were delighted to announce they were expecting a girl in October of the same year. The same message was shared by Elina on the platform.
On October 15, the baby finally arrived, making the couple parents for the first time. Elina took to her Instagram to announce the birth of her daughter with a post that read to give a warm welcome to Skai Monfils. She also appreciated her husband, whom she said she couldn’t thank enough for living through the unforgettable moment with her.
Monfils also took to social media to reveal that he had the most amazing night of his life, which wrapped up with the “most beautiful gift.” He also indicated that his daughter was born around 6 AM. The French tennis star praised his wife for being strong and brave before also appreciating her and God for the special moment.
Creating A Unique Balance of Parenting and Tennis
Now 2 years old, Skai has been protected by her parents, who kept her away from the public until October 2023 when she was a year old. It was at that time that they shared a glimpse of her, leaving her face out. One of the pictures of the little one was captured on the court with the caption “first practice session.” The second photo shared showed Skai in a gym, and it was captioned: “first fitness session.”
Monfils has publicly praised his wife’s strength, not only in returning to tennis but in balancing motherhood and her profession. He has publicly lauded her physical and mental resilience, especially during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which affected Svitolina deeply. Only six months after the arrival of their daughter, Elina was back on court, where she continued to do exceptional things.
A Family Presence on Social Media
Monfils and Svitolina’s joint Instagram account, G.E.M.S. Life provides fans with an inside look into their lives. It showcases everything from their professional tennis adventures to sweet family moments with their daughter and dog. The couple’s genuine love for one another is evident through these glimpses into their everyday life, revealing a balance between their intense professional careers and joyful family moments.
2024 Paris Olympics: A Return to Where It Began
The couple both competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, an international sports event that brought them back to the place where their love and relationship first started and fluorished. Eventhough they both represented two different countrie – Svitolina for Ukraine and Monfils for France. The event has become a symbol for their shared love for sports and each other.
Facing Challenges Together
The couple has navigated significant challenges, from the pressures of their careers to the complexities of raising a child while on the professional tennis circuit. When their daughter fell ill before the 2024 tournament, Monfils and Svitolina made the difficult decision to bring her along to their tournaments in Australia and New Zealand, marking their first international family trip.
Charity and a Shared Commitment
Monfils and Svitolina also share a commitment to charitable causes. In the 2023 US Open, they teamed up for a mixed doubles charity event, raising funds for Ukraine. This marked the first time they played on the same team, symbolizing their unity both on and off the court.
Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina’s relationship is a true love story that transcends the tennis court. From their romantic beginnings to their shared experiences as parents, their bond continues to grow stronger with each challenge they face together. As they juggle family life, and their professional careers, they stand as a testament to how love and resilience can flourish, even in the high-pressure world of competitive sports.
