Tennis star Svitolina says emotional toll of Ukraine war led to Monfils separation

Monfils and Svitolina played in the mixed doubles together at this year's US Open and reached the semi-finals

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina has announced the end of her marriage with French former tennis player Gaël Monfils, citing the emotional impact of the war in her country.

The 32-year-old, who is ranked number six in the world, wrote in a heartfelt post on Instagram about the effect the conflict and "what the war has done to me inside".

"This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share," she wrote, saying "I need to find my way back to myself". Svitolina said she felt she could not do that within her marriage.

She said her husband Monfils, 40, "listened" and "respected what I need with a strength and grace I will never forget".

"Some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you," the four-time Grand Slam semi-finalist wrote.

It was "the hardest thing I have ever had to tell the person I love", Svitolina said.

"Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me," Svitolina, who grew up in Odesa, said.

Ukraine's Black Sea port city has been heavily bombed by Russia throughout the war.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"What you didn't see were the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing myself."

The tennis power couple married in 2021 and have one child together - a four-year-old daughter called Skai.

Svitolina said her daughter "will always come first", adding "our marriage is ending, but our family is not".

Monfils, a former world number six, was expected to play the final tournament of his career at next month's Paris Masters in an emotional farewell.

However, the two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist's retirement was effectively confirmed last week when he appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Authority's list of retired players.

Once a player removes themselves from anti-doping protocols, they are not eligible to compete in professional tournaments.

Monfils, who won 13 titles on the ATP Tour, is preparing to start a new career in finance after joining a Swiss wealth management firm.

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