WISHING ALL THE BEST FOR GAEL MONFILS ON HIS RETIREMENT AND MORE

I began writing this article with extreme sadness over the devastating divorce between beloved French tennis icon, Gael Monfils, and his also-top-tennis-player wife, Elina Svitolina. But as the days of my writing went on, I realized that I’d rather couch this as a tribute to adorable Gael on his retirement, because he deserves all the love in the world.

However, I’ll follow the tribute part of the column with my thoughts on his heartbreaking divorce. And then conclude this article with a few of the upbeat words I’ve written about both of them, mainly Gael, through the years.

GAEL MONFILS’ RETIREMENT

So let’s begin with the retirement of Monfils, which is already such a loss to the sports world. It’s making me ill just seeing the words “retired” and “former” in front of “professional tennis player” to explain his career. I’m honestly crying just writing this!

We’ve had the joy of watching this guy for over two decades now! (He was named the ATP Newcomer of the Year in 2005!) I always tried to watch his matches that were televised. They were the absolute most entertaining ones ever! The one where he told the umpire that he wasn’t trying hard at the beginning because he’s “sneaky” is my all-time favorite! (And he won! Definitely look that one up!)

I’m far from the only fan who’s sad to not see him compete again. Everyone in the tennis world is penning or taping tributes to La Monf. (Yes, I do think his nickname should use the masculine “le” instead of “la,” but that’s how it’s written. And, contrary to popular opinion—mainly my own—I’m not in charge of everything in the world!) I cried my eyes out when I read the beautiful open letter that fellow player Victoria Azarenka wrote to him on social media. It captured Gael perfectly.

Here’s the link to what several of his former competitors are saying to him, many in French, (which is not their native language!): x.com/UniversTennis/status/2117710512737960155?a=i3a2_1MeeQC-0yQ2qEk&s=20.

And you should look for Gael’s farewell speech, as well. He delivered it on Wednesday to the crowd on Central Court at the Paris Masters, (which he had been due to compete in before the divorce happened,) in Paris, and there was not a dry eye in the house. (It was in French, of course, but here are links to two American stories about it: www.atptour.com/en/news/monfils-paris-2026-farewell-ceremony and sports.yahoo.com/articles/gael-monfils-issues-statement-retirement-190000808.html.)

I’ve written about my affection for, and admiration of, Gael Monfils for many years now. He’s been my second favorite player forever, it seems, (right behind Roger Federer,) and I, along with the rest of the world, truly adore him.

I first had that epiphany during the 2016 US Open, so it’s been a decade. Back then I wrote, “Frenchman Gael Monfils is the only fun guy there. He and his buddies were out playing games in the pouring rain, while everyone else was hiding inside. The joy on his face was a sight for sore eyes. (And it was his thirtieth birthday, to boot. What a way to celebrate!) It gave me the revelation that he’s my second favorite player, (to Roger, of course.)”

Every tennis fan agrees that Gael is the most entertaining athlete; we’ve all been lucky to watch him. I’ve always been sad that he’s never won a Major, after winning three out of the four top them as a Junior. But he’s won other titles along the way. And he’s one of only five players in the Open era to reach at least one ATP Tour singles final in every year for nineteen consecutive seasons! (From 2005 to 2023.)

Monfils recently said that he has been studying finance, and was offered a job in that field, which he seemed poised to accept, but being such a cherished public figure, I can only hope that he becomes a tennis commentator instead, so that we can still enjoy his wit and charm for decades to come.

No matter what he does next in life, I wish him the best of everything! There will never be another like him.

Bravo, La Monf!

THE DEVASTATING DIVORCE OF TENNIS STARS GAEL MONFILS AND ELINA SVITOLINA

The impending divorce of tennis stars Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina is the saddest break-up for me since that of…Sonny and Cher when I was a little girl! Back then, I felt like I was losing my parents. And all hope for love. But this one is sooo much more heartbreaking. I literally gasped out loud and yelled, “Nooooo!,” when I read the news. The only way I could be sadder, or more shocked, would be if Mr. X and I broke-up!

Just a couple of months ago, after the US Open, I wrote about “darling married couple Elina Svitolina and Gaels Monfils.” I loved seeing them play Mixed Doubles there, which I believe was a first. They looked so proud of each other. So this divorce is extra hard to understand.

I think the reason I’ve rooted for Ukrainian Elina for the past seven years is actually due to her relationship with Frenchman Gael. But I believe that I’m done with her now because of the way she’s gone about the break-up.

Her timing is more than unfortunate—it’s disgusting. She knew that her husband, now forty-years-old, was finally retiring, and he wanted to do it in his native France, where he’s adored even more than around the rest of the world. But he was so upset about this development that he had to drop-out of what were due to be his two final tournaments, in Lyon and Paris. He said that the split “severely impacted his mental well-being, drained his appetite, and made it difficult to train or find the motivation to compete.” So there was not the big ending for his career that he soooooo richly deserved! That is disappointing not only for himself, but for his gazillion fans, especially the ones in France who were set to witness his last match, and most likely looked forward to it all year! Why couldn’t his wife have just waited for these few short weeks to leave him?! I’ll never understand.

And she appeared to be so madly in love with him! Elina says that the emotional impact of the war in her country, Ukraine, is what led to her divorce decision. Most of us cannot understand that, but it’s not for us to do that, anyway. It’s really just between the two of them, no matter how much it shatters the hearts of those who loved them, especially him—family, friends, and fans alike.

However, Gael doesn’t want us to take sides. He’s even written an amazing post defending her. But I can’t help but be very angry with her—why could she have not waited just a couple of weeks, so he could retire properly??? That was so unfair, unloving, and just plain creepy of her.

My heart is breaking for Monfils, and their four-year-old daughter, Skai, and even a tiny bit for Elina. I believe Gael will find happiness again, (because who doesn’t love him?,) but I cannot imagine that Elina will ever find anyone else as perfect as Gael. So there’s that.

MY PREVIOUS WORDS ABOUT THE COUPLE, MAINLY GAEL, OVER THE YEARS

Now here are some excerpts of my writings about the Monfils’, in order:

2015 Wimbledon: “I’m so glad the week ended on the high note of watching the most entertaining player of them all, Gael Monfils, play against one of his best friends, Gilles Simon, (who wound-up winning.) I’ve never seen such a friendly match, from start to finish, and it was really uplifting to witness.”

2022 US Open Preview: “Also preggers is another one of my faves, 2021 Olympics bronze medalist, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. She and her charming husband, the always-entertaining Gael Monfils, (who, unfortunately, has to sit this one out, as well, due to injury,) are having their baby in less than two months! Besides that I love them both individually, they’re also one of my favorite couples ever; they have a love that everyone should aspire to. (And can you just imagine what that baby’s tennis genes will be like??? I can’t wait for her to grow-up and play already!)”

2023 US Open Preview: “I love that married couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina play with their wedding rings on. And she even wears her big engagement ring!!!”

2023 US Open Wrap-up: “my favorite female player, Elina Svitolina, is not only from Ukraine, but helps her country all the time, with both money and moral aid. And, she just had a baby in October!!! And she’s already back playing professionally, and doing quite well, to boot. And she’s married to adorable and hilarious player, Gael Monfils, so I always love to watch those two as long as possible.”

2024 US Open Preview: “I always root for Elina Svitolina, not just because she’s married to charming Gael Monfils, and I love that family unit, but mainly because of her wonderful and touching devotion to her home country of Ukraine. She uses most of her time and tennis earnings to help her people, which is beyond admirable.”

2024 US Open Wrap-up: “The always-entertaining Gael Monfils made me laugh out loud when he took a bow after winning a particularly dramatic point in the second round against Casper Ruud.”

2026 Wimbledon Preview: “On the Ladies’ side, I have been rooting mainly for Elina Svitolina for several years because A) she’s a really good person, B) she’s Ukrainian, and I would like that country to have every little bit of happiness, and C) I adore her hilarious husband, Gael Monfils.”

2026 US Open Wrap-up: “The most bittersweet part of all of it was seeing the incredible Gael Monfils play his final Major match! I could not stop crying. Gael is the best. He’s the most entertaining tennis player ever and a lovely, adorable person. I hope that he does not take the finance job he’s been offered, and goes into sportscasting instead. We need him! What a true gift to the world he is, making everyone so happy. Even his opponents adore him.”

And: “I’ve had so much else going on in my life, (both good and not-so-good,) that I totally forgot to take notes on the Mixed Doubles that took place before the US Open began, but it was tons of fun. I especially loved seeing married couple Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina play together.”

Finally, on September 3rd, I tweeted: “I cannot stop crying seeing the incredible Gael Monfils play his final Major match! He’s the best; the most entertaining tennis player ever and a lovely, adorable person. I hope that he does not take the finance job he’s been offered, & goes into sportscasting instead.” I totally stick by that, because we all want to hear from him again, and often! ESPN—sign this guy up this very moment!!!

Now this is truly the end of an era. As always, and even more than ever, I wish Gael Monfils the best in everything in life. (You can tell how much I adore the guy—this “tiny tribute” is almost as long as his career!)