"I'm in awe of my wife, it's thanks to her that I play" - Monfils on Elina Svitolina

French tennis star Gael Monfils sees an inspiration when he looks at his wife Elina Svitolina as he admitted he went to Indian Wells and Miami only because his wife decided to play those events.

In late February, Russia launched their attacks on Ukraine which made the past month and a half extremely tough for Svitolina but still she decided to play the Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami. In Indian Wells, Monfils admitted "it's not easy to see my wife a couple of weeks ago crying every night."

Now, after those events passed Monfils reflected:

"I am in awe of my wife. Frankly, it is thanks to her that I play. In all transparency, if she hadn't gone to Indian Wells and Miami, I wouldn't have gone there either. I can't even figure out how she could play. It's exceptional to find so much energy, will in moments like this. Hats off! I tell her every time I follow her example. She has exceptional abilities in life."

Svitolina nnounced a break from tennis earlier due to a persisntent back issues that she needs to deal with as well as the difficulty of playing while tragedy keeps unfolding in her home country. She did not specify a date of return.