Tennis stars Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils are ending their marriage after building a life together, and Svitolina says the decision has been one of the hardest moments she has faced. On Monday, October 19, the Ukrainian tennis star announced the separation in an emotional Instagram statement, describing it as “the most difficult thing I have ever had to share.” Svitolina reflected on the emotional toll that the war in Ukraine had taken on her well-being. She also remembered how Monfils supported her when she stepped away from tennis to focus on recovering. But she explained that love alone could not resolve every personal struggle. “Some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you,” she wrote. Svitolina said she eventually realized she needed to find her way back to herself and could not do that within their marriage. Despite the separation, one thing remains more important than anything else: their daughter, Skai. The couple will continue raising her together, with Svitolina making clear that their family bond will not disappear with the end of their marriage. “Skai will always come first,” she shared. “Our marriage is ending, but our family is not.” Monfils, 40, had already been listed as retired from professional tennis after previously planning to end his career later this year. Whether the separation influenced that decision remains unclear. Sometimes, choosing a different path does not mean the love was never real; it means accepting that life can change. \#ElinaSvitolina #GaelMonfils #TennisNews #CelebrityNews #familyfirst - @chef.ched