When Gael Monfils first messaged Elina Svitolina on Instagram, he unknowingly set in motion a love story that would transcend the tennis court. Though they had crossed paths for years at tournaments around the world, their relationship didn’t begin until late 2018—shortly after Svitolina’s WTA Finals victory in Singapore. Monfils saw a photo she posted with friends in Paris, reached out, and asked to meet. That one message turned into something far more lasting than either expected.
At the time, Svitolina was coming off a career-defining win, and Monfils—always charismatic and energetic—was known for his on-court flair. But what followed their first meetup was quiet and meaningful: shared dinners, travel, and eventually a partnership that reflected mutual respect. As Svitolina later said, once they connected, “we could no longer part.”
In April 2021, Monfils proposed during a snowy retreat, and by July they were married in a stylish ceremony that matched their personalities. Both wore custom Off-White designs: Svitolina in a cream pantsuit layered with a sheer lilac skirt, and Monfils in a lavender suit with floral accents. The wedding was equal parts chic and personal—intimate but expressive.
Their biggest milestone came in October 2022 with the birth of their daughter, Skaï. For Monfils, becoming a father shifted everything. “Tennis is cool, but my dream is out there,” he said in 2025, reflecting on fatherhood as his greatest achievement. The couple have since embraced parenthood while still pursuing professional tennis at the highest level.
Svitolina returned to the WTA tour in 2023 and quickly made headlines, reaching the Wimbledon semifinals and winning the title in Rouen. Monfils, for his part, continued to defy age expectations, capturing the ATP title in Auckland in 2025 and becoming the oldest champion on the tour in nearly five decades.
Together, they represent more than a tennis couple—they’re a team navigating life, competition, and parenthood in full view of the public. Their relationship, forged from a simple DM, has become one of modern tennis’s most enduring love stories.
