Paris, 28 May 2025 – Under the vibrant lights of the central court of Roland Garros, Gaël Monfils, at 38 years old, again turned on the Parisian audience in his epic game of the first round against Hugo Delien. He led two sets on zero, the French, nicknamed “sliderman” for his spectacular slides on the clay, orchestrated a reversal return (4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-1), showing that his domestic fire still burns. But behind this sporting resurrection a woman is held: Elina Switoline, her wife, who continued to defend her and accompany her in the darkest moments of her career. The match against Delien, concluded around midnight, was a demonstration of Monfils’ resistance and passion.
After giving in the first two sets, he found his legendary energy, galvanized by a delusional audience and his desire to demonstrate that he remains an elite competitor. This victory, the first from his return to the circuit after the injuries in Madrid and Rome, marks a turning point. Monfils, who won the Sweden tournament in 2025, becoming the oldest player to raise an ATP trophy since 1990, shows that he has not lost any of his plume. But this return would not have been possible without the unshakable support of his wife. Elina Svitolina, a Ukrainian player in 29th in the world, is much more than a wife for Monfils. It is his muse, his rock and sometimes even his greatest criticism. In a recent interview broadcast byThe team, Svitolina spoke with emotion to defend her husband in the face of the criticisms and doubts that accompanied her in her difficult moments. “After all, everyone has abandoned him, but now that he shines again, everyone returns,” he said, indicating those who doubted Monfils’ longevity. “Gaël has always had this flame and I saw it even when he himself doubted.” “
The couple, married from July 2021 to Nyon, shares a rare complicity in the world of tennis. Their love story, marked by a brief separation in 2021 before their commitment, is a source of inspiration. The parents of a girl named Skai, born in October 2022, learned to juggle their demanding careers and their family life. Svitolina, which she herself shone to Roland Garros 2025 qualifying for the second round after a quick victory against Zeynep Sönmez (6-1, 6-1),Tennisactu: “With Gaël, there are only more. We understand what the other is going through.
We help each other in difficult moments. The strength of the Monfils-Vitoline duo lies in their ability to support each other, also under pressure from the tournaments. During the 2025 Australian Open, where Monfils beat Taylor Fritz, Svitolina was in the stands, shouting his support. In Roland Garros, he chose not to participate in his husband’s Marathon match against Delien, according to his advice to preserve his energy for his tournament. “Fortunately, I told him not to come, because it could be long,” Monfil joked at the microphone ofPrime Video. This complicity, mixed with humor and respect, is at the center of their success. Make his age, Monfils continues to challenge expectations. His victory in Auckland at the beginning of the year and his career at the Australian Open, where he reached the direct elimination phases before abandoning Ben Shelton because of an injury, show that it remains competitive. Svitolina, for his part, brings the weight of the war to Ukraine, his hometown, while he pursues his career with determination. His words at the press conference of Roland Garros, where he spoke of the daily pain linked to the conflict, recall his resilience.
By defending her husband, Switzerm Send a clear message: perseverance and triumph of love for rehearsals. Monfils continues to dance on the pitch, smile and vibrate the crowd. As he said after his victory against Delien: “These are the types of games he still play. With Elina by her side, Gaël Monfils has not finished surprising us.
