"Love when he gives a massage at 2am": Svitolina expresses affection for husband Monfils after US Open exit

Sunday, 10 September 2023 at 15:38

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina in Melbourne

Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina expressed her affection for her husband Gael Monfils in her Instagram stories.

The 28-year-old Ukrainian married Monfils in 2021, and they welcomed their daughter Skai in October 2022.

Just six months later, Svitolina made a successful return to the WTA Tour, climbing from being outside the top 1000 to world No. 25 as of this Monday after the conclusion of the US Open.

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The former WTA Finals champion clinched the title at the WTA 250 Estrasburgo Open, reached the third round of the US Open, made it to the quarterfinals at the French Open, and reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, boasting an 11-3 record in Grand Slam events since her return.

At Flushing Meadows, she advanced through the first two rounds but fell to the third seed, Jessica Pegula, in three sets. In the same tournament, her husband Gael Monfils only reached the second round, losing to the eighth seed, Andrey Rublev, and is now ranked world No. 138.

Following their early exits from the US Open, Svitolina announced that she would be taking a break from tennis for a while, leaving uncertainty about when she will return to competition.

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The couple traveled to France for the launch of the All in Country Club, which belongs to former world No. 5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Svitolina shared a photo from France, expressing her affection for her husband.

“Love when he gives a massage at 2am," former world No. 3 wrote

Gael Monfils will also not be competing in the upcoming weeks as the Asian tour begins with tournaments in Zhuhai, Chengdu, Beijing, Astana, and Shanghai.

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The former world No. 6 Frenchman was absent for nearly two months after his victory over Sebastian Baez in the first round of the French Open. Monfils withdrew before his match with Holger Rune due to an injury and only returned at the Atlanta Open at the end of July.

Since then, despite his limited time in competition, he has achieved notable victories over players like Alexander Bublik, Christopher Eubanks, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Cameron Norrie, and Alex De Minaur, all of whom are ranked within the top 30.

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Gael Monfils is in the house to watch Elina Svitolina play Jessica Pegula at the US Open 🥰

8:17 PM · Sep 2, 2023

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Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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