Gael Monfils, known for his captivating style and energy on the tennis court, recently shared the profound impact his wife, Elina Svitolina, has had on his career. Monfils admitted that he was close to retiring years ago, but Svitolina’s unwavering support and love brought him back from the brink.
“My wife literally saved me,” Monfils said, expressing how Svitolina rekindled his passion for the sport. He described the fire within him—sometimes burning brightly, sometimes barely flickering—but credited her for reigniting it at crucial moments.
This is what he said in detail: “If I hadn’t met Elina, I would’ve retired already… no doubt. I think I would’ve called it quits after COVID. At that time, I was still in top 10, but it meant nothing to me. Empty stadiums… it was a different energy. I just felt it wasn’t for me anymore.” “I started to tell Elina that maybe it was time to stop. I couldn’t get back to my previous level, and it was deeply frustrating. She helped me get through it. Not right away, but when winter came, I started feeling that spark again. A bit of joy on court… for me, this is crucial.” “Then I had a good run, got my ranking back up to #14, won Adelaide, reached the Australian Open quarterfinals. But then came another injury, my foot… I was out for seven months. On top of that, Elina was pregnant, I had a serious family issue… and honestly, I thought, ‘This is the end.’” “But Elina… she found the right words. She said to me, ‘Look, I’m coming back after giving birth… so you can do it too.’ She gave me motivation. I told her, ‘I need a clear goal,’ and we set one together. She helped me immensely. And then I said, and everyone laughed, ‘I want to qualify for the Olympics.’ At that point, I was ranked somewhere around 400 in the world.” “My wife literally saved me. She reignited that fire in me. You know, sometimes it’s burning bright, sometimes it’s barely a flame. She brought it back. So yes, to answer the question… she played a huge, decisive role in the fact that I’m still playing tennis. Thank you, Elina.
The French tennis star emphasized the role Svitolina played in helping him navigate challenging times. Her presence not only inspired him to keep going but also provided him with a renewed sense of purpose both on and off the court. Monfils’ story highlights the power of meaningful relationships and how they can shape one’s journey through life and adversity.
Gael Monfils in 2025
Now the world no.42, the French player played his last match on the 25th of March when he was defeated by world no.25 Sebastian Korda 6-4 2-6 6-4 in the 4th round in Miami (draw).
At present, during this year the French player has a composed 14-5 win-loss record. The French player conquered 1 title in Auckland.