Gaël Monfils announces retirement following divorce from Elina Svitolina

Former world No. 6 Gaël Monfils has officially confirmed his retirement from professional tennis, effective October 5. During a recent livestream on Twitch, the 40-year-old Frenchman revealed that his decision was heavily influenced by the painful dissolution of his marriage to Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina.

Monfils admitted that the separation has taken a significant toll on his mental and physical well-being, stating, “I’m not at my best psychologically” and noting that he has struggled with eating and training. He explained that the emotional weight of the breakup made it impossible to maintain the rigorous preparation required for professional competition.

Although Monfils had originally planned to conclude his career at tournaments in Lyon and Paris, his sudden retirement was noted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) earlier than expected. To honor his career, the Rolex Paris Masters will host a special tribute for him on November 3 at the La Défense Arena, allowing him to bid farewell to his fans in person.