# Svitolina ends marriage citing Ukraine war's toll

> Tennis star Elina Svitolina announces separation from Gaël Monfils, saying the emotional impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine made it impossible to stay married.
- Title: Svitolina ends marriage citing Ukraine war's toll · BBC News
- Summary: Tennis star Elina Svitolina announces separation from Gaël Monfils, saying the emotional impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine made it impossible to stay…
- Keywords: elina svitolina, gaël monfils, ukraine, war in ukraine, tennis, separation, sports, Svitolina, ends, marriage, citing, war's
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckd7qy12j148o
- Published: 2026-10-19T14:20:03.889+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: elina svitolina, gaël monfils, ukraine, war in ukraine, tennis, separation, sports
## Svitolina announces end of marriage
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina, ranked number six in the world, has announced the end of her marriage to French former player Gaël Monfils.
## War's emotional toll made marriage impossible
In an Instagram post, the thirty-two-year-old wrote that she needed to find her way back to herself and could not do that within her marriage.

> Some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you.
## Monfils respected her decision, daughter comes first
Svitolina said her forty-year-old husband listened and respected what she needed with strength and grace.The couple married in twenty twenty-one and have a four-year-old daughter called Skai.

> our marriage is ending, but our family is not
## Key takeaway

Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina has ended her marriage to French former player Gaël Monfils, citing the emotional toll of the war in her country.