The tennis world witnessed a touching moment on Court Philippe-Chatrier ahead of this year’s French Open. As Gael Monfils, after his long, storied 22-year career, prepares to play Roland Garros for the final time, the emotional weight of his farewell created a heartwarming scene, especially as his wife, Elina Svitolina, watched on, while she is having her own career-defining resurgence this season after winning the title in Rome.
Elina Svitolina Tears Up Honoring Gael Monfils Ahead of Final Roland Garros
The Roland Garros officials organized the ‘Gael and Friends’ event to celebrate Monfils’ storied career and raise money for federation-linked charities. Monfils, the hometown hero, holds many notable records at the French Open, including the Open Era record for the most five-set match victories (12) and tying Yannick Noah for the most career match wins (40) by a French male player in the Open Era. It is statistically his most successful Grand Slam, with an overall win percentage of over 70%. The former world No. 6 also captured 13 ATP Tour singles titles across his two-decade career.
The event featured tennis royalty from both the ATP and WTA Tours, including Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Sorana Cîrstea, Belinda Bencic, and Taylor Townsend.
To maximize the fun, the players were divided into eight teams to compete in a unique mixed doubles exhibition. Monfils, ever the ultimate showman, welcomed his wife Svitolina to the court first. The Ukrainian, just like Monfils’ parents in the stands, was in tears.
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In his speech after the match, Monfils said: “Once again, thanks to you all for everything you’ve given me over the years. It’s been a dream of my life. It was always a dream of mine, an objective, a goal. I’ve always given my absolute most. I was never quite good enough to win a Grand Slam. But maybe I won something more important than that: a tennis career I’m proud of.”
He thanked his family for the sacrifices they made. “We forget sometimes all the sacrifices that you have to go through to get where we are. People talk a lot, but my family knows what it cost, all the sacrifices they made for me. Thank you, Mom and Dad. We love you. If I’m here today, it’s thanks to you, too.”
Adding a heavy dose of French nostalgia to the evening, retired pros Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet also stepped onto the clay, reuniting the golden generation of French men’s tennis. The event also included a concert of French artists M. Pokora and Martin Solveig.
This emotional tribute is even more compelling when you look at the contrasting trajectories of the couple’s 2026 seasons. While Monfils is preparing to say goodbye, Svitolina is playing some of the most dominant tennis of her career.
Balancing the intense pressures of the professional tour with a marriage and the raising of their daughter, Skai, Svitolina dismantled the tour’s top tier, with stunning back-to-back victories over superstars like Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Iga ÅšwiÄ…tek. She arrives in Paris riding the massive momentum of winning the 2026 Rome Masters.
Monfils steps onto the red clay for one last unforgettable tournament run, and he will face Hugo Gaston on May 25. Meanwhile, Svitolina carries the torch forward, armed with the emotional support of her husband, and her first-round match is scheduled against Anna Bondár.
