Overview
- Elina Svitolina announced on October 19 that she and Gaël Monfils are separating and said the psychological toll of Russia’s war on Ukraine was one key reason she needed to rediscover herself.
- Gaël Monfils issued a public Instagram statement on October 23 defending Svitolina, calling much of the online response “unkind at best, and venomous at worst,” and asking for privacy for their family.
- Monfils was entered on the International Tennis Integrity Agency retired/inactive list on October 5 after removing himself from anti‑doping whereabouts, a step that would require six months of out‑of‑competition testing for a sanctioned return.
- Both players say they will prioritise co‑parenting their daughter Skaï, Svitolina has withdrawn from some tournaments but remains qualified for the WTA Finals, and Monfils is confirmed for a December exhibition in Geneva.
- The coverage has centred on how media reports — including a French account that Svitolina told Monfils by phone in late September — and public scrutiny of private health and family decisions have intensified online harassment of athletes and raised questions about reporting and fan conduct.