"The war in Ukraine, depression, and the pain of the end": Tennis power couple announce split

One of world sport's most beloved and high-profile couples has parted ways. Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, who married in 2021 and share a daughter, Skai, announced their separation on Monday in an emotional message shared by the Ukrainian star on social media.

In the statement, the former WTA World No. 3 opened up like never before about the internal battles she has faced since the Russian invasion of her homeland, candidly addressing the unbearable toll the war in Ukraine has taken on her mental health and her marriage.

"This is the hardest thing I have ever had to share. Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me on the inside. (...) What you didn't see were the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing myself," Svitolina revealed.

The Ukrainian was quick to praise the Frenchman's unconditional support throughout the ordeal, emphasizing that Monfils stood by her during the "darkest moments" of her life, even as her inner turmoil ultimately led to the split.

"Gael saw it all. He never let go of my hand. We fought for this together for a long time, with everything we had. But some battles happen inside you, and no one else's love can win them for you. Over time, I realized that I need to find the way back to myself, and that I cannot do that within our marriage," she wrote.

Svitolina also made clear that their daughter, Skai, remains their absolute priority, stressing that neither party is to blame for the end of their relationship.

"Our marriage is ending, but our family is not. We will always be her parents, side by side. There is no one to blame here, just two people who loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape," she concluded, asking for privacy during the healing process.