Elina Svitolina has announced her separation from Gael Monfils in order to “find my way back to myself”.

Tennis’ golden couple got married in July 2021 and have one child, Skai.

Ukrainian Svitolina posted an emotional message on Instagram this morning in which she announced the shock news and explained it was her decision linked to the ongoing war in her homeland.

We built a beautiful life – Svitolina

She wrote: “This is the most difficult 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 inside. Last year, I told you I needed to step away from the court because I wasn’t in the right emotional space. Today, I want to open up a little more. What you didn’t see were the sleepless nights, the doubts, and the feeling of slowly losing myself.

“Gaël saw all of it. He never let go of my hand. We fought through this together for a long time, with everything we had. But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you.

“With time, I came to understand that I need to find my way back to myself and that I cannot do that within our marriage. It is the hardest truth I have ever had to face and the hardest thing I have ever had to tell the person I love. Gaël listened. He has respected what I need with a strength and grace I will never forget.

“Gaël has loved me through my greatest joys and my darkest moments, and I have loved him with all my heart. Together, we built a beautiful life, and we were given the most precious gift of all, our daughter, Skai.

“Skai will always come first. Our marriage is ending, but our family is not. We will always be her parents, side by side, at every step of her life.

“Please know that there is no one to blame here. There are only two people who loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape.

“We ask for your kindness and for the space we need to heal.”

Monfils seemingly brings forward retirement

Monfils’ future on the court has been shrouded in uncertainty. He had previously announced he would retire at the end of the season and received a wild card for the ATP Masters in Paris at which it was expected he would say his farewells.

But his name appeared on the list of retired players maintained by the International Tennis Integrity Agency and pulled out of this week’s Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes citing personal reasons.

The 40-year-old is expected to go into the business world and work in wealth management.

Svitolina, 32, is ranked number six in the world.