Everything about the marriage of the tennis stars

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina – professional tennis players And Man and woman – their private and professional worlds have been closely linked for years.

Before competing in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, the sports couple met in the city of love six years earlier. Monfils from France and Svitolina from Ukraine had met for years at global tournaments, but finally met when he contacted her. After a short engagement period, they married on July 16, 2021.

The following year, Monfils and Svitolina welcomed their daughter Skaï and the new mother returned to tennis shortly after. Monfils was amazed at his wife’s strength as the family grew.

“I’m surprised at how well she’s come back, how strong she is mentally and physically. It’s just incredible,” he said at a 2024 press conference. They continue to support each other on and off the court, including at the 2024 US Open.

From custom wedding looks by the late fashion designer Virgil Abloh to attending the Paris Olympics, here’s everything you need to know about Gael Monfils and Elina Switolina’s relationship.

They met in Paris

The two had known each other for years as professional tennis players and finally met when Monfils contacted Svitolina and invited her to have a drink with him and his friends after her victory at the 2018 WTA Finals in Singapore.

“I had known Gael for some time, as we constantly participated in the same tournaments. But there was very little communication: he knew that I was in a long-term relationship,” Svitolina said in 2019. “At the end of 2018, after winning the final tournament [in Singapore]I went out partying with my Parisian friends. I posted a photo on Instagram and Gael wrote to me. We met and couldn’t bear to leave.”

Monfils and Svitolina had a romantic engagement in the mountains

After several years of dating, Monfils and Svitolina announced their engagement on Instagram on April 3, 2021.

In the post, the couple posed and showed off Svitolina’s three-stone emerald-cut engagement ring against the romantic backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

They married in July 2021

On July 16, 2021, Monfils and Svitolina officially tied the knot.

For the ceremony, both wore custom Off-White outfits by the late Virgil Abloh and his team. Svitolina’s “DREAM DRESS” was unconventional – a white pantsuit with a transparent, cascading purple skirt around the waist.

Monfils and Svitolina have a daughter together

On October 15, 2022, Monfils and Svitolina announced the birth of their first child, a daughter named Skaï.

“I had the greatest night of my life which ended around 6:00 am with the most beautiful gift. Elina was strong and brave 💪🏾🙏🏾I can’t thank my wife and God enough for this special moment 🙏🏾Welcome to the world my little princess SKAÏ ❤️,” Monfils wrote on Instagram.

The couple shares photos of their daughter from time to time, but hides her face.

Monfils finds Svitolina’s mental and physical strength “amazing”

After the birth of Skaï, Monfils praised his wife for returning to her tennis career. At a press conference in 2024, the French athlete said: “She is first and foremost a great mother. That comes first. People want to put tennis first, but I think she is first and foremost a great mother. That is the most important thing for me as her husband, because of course we are a tennis couple, but life goes beyond our sport.”

He continued: “She’s an excellent and great mother and as you said, she’s handled it well on the court. I’m surprised at how well she’s come back, how strong she is mentally and physically. It’s just incredible.”

Since Svitolina is Ukrainian, her husband also praised her perseverance in the face of the Russian invasion of her homeland: “I can’t tell you too much, because even I am amazed, and of course the situation in Ukraine… It’s just incredible and she is a strong woman.”

They have a shared Instagram account

Monfils and Svitolina both have personal social media accounts and also have a shared page called “GEMS Life.”

There, the couple shares news from their lives, personal photos (including with their dog) and even gives insights into their life as parents. With over 100,000 followers, it is a destination for fans of the tennis pros.

Monfils and Svitolina both participated in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris

Monfils and Svitolina both competed in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, returning for the pair to where it all began.

Representing her homeland, Svitolina wrote on Facebook: “140 athletes represented our country at the Olympic Games in Paris during the war. We have never seen such examples in the history of global sport, but it proves once again that Ukrainians are a nation of brave and resilient people.”

After his loss to Italian Lorenzo Musetti, Monfils wrote: “Thank you Paris for your incredible support last night at Roland Garros 🙏🏾. Playing night sessions is always a great experience (although it’s not always easy haha ​​​​😂).”

But despite the stress of the competition, the two managed to remain light-hearted and shared a video of Svitolina’s attempt to speak French on Instagram.