Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina's Relationship: All About the Tennis Stars' Marriage

Mar. 15, 2025

Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils attends Citi Taste of Tennis Washington, D.C. 2023 on July 30, 2023 in Washington, DC.Photo:Leigh Vogel/Getty

Leigh Vogel/Getty

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina — professional tennis playersandhusband and wife — have been intertwining their personal and professional worlds for years.

Before competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the athletic pair met in the City of Love six years prior. Monfils from France and Svitolina from Ukraine had been crossing paths at global tournaments for years but finally met when he reached out to her. After a brief engagement, they were married on July 16, 2021.

”I’m surprised how well she came back, how strong she is mentally and physically. It’s just amazing," he said at a2024 press conference.

They met in Paris

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina.Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina/Instagram

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina/Instagram

While the pair had been crossing paths for years as professional tennis players, they finally met when Monfils reached out to Svitolina, inviting her to join him and his friends for drinks after she won the 2018 WTA Finals in Singapore.

“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.”

Monfils and Svitolina had a romantic engagement in the mountains

After a few years of dating, Monfils and Svitolinaannounced their engagementonInstagramon April 3, 2021.

In the post, the couple posed showing off Svitolina’s three-stone emerald-cut engagement ring against the romantic backdrop of snow-covered mountains.

They married in July 2021

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina attends the Crown IMG Tennis Party on January 19, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.James D. Morgan/Getty

James D. Morgan/Getty

On July 16, 2021, Monfils and Svitolina officially tied the knot.

Monfils and Svitolina share a daughter

Elina Svitolina and Skai Monfils.Elina Svitolina/Instagram

Elina Svitolina/Instagram

On October 15, 2022, Monfils and Svitolinaannouncedthe birth of their first child, a daughter named Skaï.

“I had the most amazing night of my life, which ended with the most beautiful gift around 6:00Am. Elina was strong and brave💪🏾🙏🏾I can’t t thx enough, my wife and God, for this special moment 🙏🏾Welcome to the world, my little princess SKAÏ ❤️,” Monfils wrote onInstagram.

The couple share photos of their daughter from time to time, but keep her face hidden.

Monfils thinks Svitolina’s mental and physical strength is “amazing”

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina with their daughter Skai.Elina Svitolina/Instagram

He continued, “She’s an excellent and great mother and as you said she managed it well on the court. I’m surprised how well she came back, how strong she is mentally and physically. It’s just amazing.”

Given that Svitolina is Ukrainian, her husband also praised her resilience amid Russia’s invasion of her home country: “I can’t really tell you so much because even me I’m amazed and of course with the Ukraine situation … It’s just amazing and she’s a tough woman.”

They have a joint Instagram account

While both Monfils and Svitolina have personal social media accounts, they also share a joint page calledG.E.M.S. Life.

There, the couple share life updates, personal photos (including withtheir dog) and even glimpses into their parenting. With over 100,000 followers, it’s a destination for fans of the tennis pros.

Monfils and Svitolina both competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics

Matthew Stockman/Getty ; Matthew Stockman/Getty

Monfils and Svitolina both competed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, taking things back to where it all started for the couple.

Representing her home country, Svitolina wrote onFacebook, “140 athletes during the war represent our country at the Olympics in Paris. In the history of global sport we have never seen such examples, but it once again proves that Ukrainians are a nation of brave and resilient people.”

After losing to Italian player Lorenzo Musetti,Monfils wrote: “Thank you Paris for your incredible support last night to Roland Garros 🙏🏾. Playing night sessions is always an amazing experience (although it’s not always easy haha 😂).”

But despite the stress of the competition, the pair were able to stay lighthearted,sharing a videoon Instagram of Svitolina attempting to speak French.

Monfils' dream is to have an “unbelieveable family”

Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina in 2023.Pascal Le Segretain/SC Pool - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

Pascal Le Segretain/SC Pool - Corbis/Corbis via Getty

In January 2025, fans thought Monfils had a shot at the Australian Open title after going on a three-win streak. Sadly, a back injury forced him to retire from his fourth-round match against American Ben Shelton.

Before facing Shelton, Monfils told reporters that his dreams have little to do with winning tennis tournaments.

“My dream is to be old with a lot of kids and healthy. My dream is to have an unbelievable family,” he said during apress conference. “Tennis is cool but my dream is out there.”

source: people.com