‘I Needed To Find Myself’: Elina Svitolina’s Divorce Confession Sparks Backlash As Reports Link Split To Gael Monfils’ Early Retirement

Elina Svitolina has faced criticism on social media after announcing the end of her marriage to Gael Monfils, with some tennis fans questioning her explanation for the separation. The Ukrainian tennis star opened up about the emotional toll of the war in her country, saying she needed to find her way back to herself and could no longer do so within the marriage.

The announcement has also drawn attention to Monfils’ abrupt retirement from professional tennis earlier this month. Reports in French media have linked the decision to the personal news, although the former world No. 6 has not publicly confirmed that the separation was the reason behind his retirement.

Elina Svitolina’s Divorce Statement Draws Criticism From Tennis Fans

In an emotional statement, Svitolina spoke about the impact of Russia’s war against Ukraine on her mental and emotional well-being: ““This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share. Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside,” she said.

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She acknowledged Monfils’ support throughout the difficult period, saying he had stood by her and respected her decision. However, she explained that she needed to rediscover herself outside their marriage.

“Last year, I told you I needed to step away from the court because I wasn’t in the right emotional space. Today, I want to open up a little more. What you didn’t see were the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing myself. Gaël saw all of it. He never let go of my hand. We fought through this together for a long time, with everything we had.”