Elina Svitolina has revealed that her recent divorce from Gael Monfils significantly influenced the French tennis star's decision to retire earlier than anticipated. The announcement came on Monday, following five years of marriage, with Svitolina attributing the emotional strain to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Gael Monfils, 40, was initially expected to conclude his career at the upcoming Paris Masters in November. However, he has been listed as inactive by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, marking an abrupt end to his 22-year career. In a heartfelt social media post, Svitolina elaborated on how the separation affected Monfils, stating, "It’s not always possible to explain everything behind such personal and difficult decisions in a single post."

She expressed sympathy for Monfils, who faced unwarranted accusations following their split, leading to a joint statement from the couple. Svitolina emphasized that their divorce was multifaceted, stating, "It was never just about one thing."

Reflecting on the impact of the war in Ukraine, Svitolina described experiencing "sleepless nights" and shifting priorities. She noted, "When you’ve been living through the reality of war for more than 4.5 years, your perspective changes."

Monfils played his final match in September, suffering a second-round defeat to Learner Tien at the US Open. Despite the end of their marriage, Svitolina assured fans that they would continue to co-parent their four-year-old daughter, Skai. "Skai will always come first," she affirmed. "Our marriage is ending, but our family is not."