Gael Monfils Got Emotional After Reading Wife Elina Svitolina’s Heartwarming Letter About Him for Daughter Skai

Gael Monfils will be playing at the French Open for the last time in his career, as he announced last year that he would hang up his racket after the conclusion of this season. Up against him in the first round will be compatriot Hugo Gaston.

A few days ago, his wife and WTA World No.7 Elina Svitolina wrote a heartwarming tribute letter about him for their daughter Skai, who was born on October 15, 2022. Svitolina and Monfils tied the knot on July 16, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland, after dating for about two and a half years.

Monfils will be playing in his home Slam for the 19th time. On Thursday, the mixed exhibition named ‘Gael & Friends’ on Court Philippe-Chatrier was filled with other high-profile names such as Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Naomi Osaka, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Maria Sakkari, Iva Jovic, and also former players, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga and Richard Gasquet. The couple emerged victorious, defeating Djokovic and Sakkari.

A few hours before that match, Svitolina released the aforementioned touching letter titled, Your Dad, the Magician, in The Players’ Tribune. In the pre-tournament press conference, Monfils was asked about the letter.

The truth is that that day, she read it to me late at night when I came back from the event. We were both very emotional in a way. I didn’t know. I was very touched… Very touched. It was funny that it was one of the first times I could see her so… to open up a bit on that. For me, it took me very deep.

Monfils, a former World No.6, is a onetime semifinalist at the French Open, reaching that stage in 2008. The only other time he has made the last four of a Major was at the 2016 US Open. Last year at Roland Garros, the 39-year-old lost in the second round.

Elina Svitolina says she will be content even if she doesn’t win a Grand Slam title

Elina Svitolina still believes she can lift a Grand Slam title. But if she doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world for her. In the pre-tournament press conference, the Ukrainian ace said that she is so content with whatever she has achieved that she won’t be damaging herself mentally if she ends up hanging up her racket without a Major to her name.

I think now I’m just more fine with the way my career is… it is how it is. Okay, if I don’t win a Slam, it’s also fine in a way. If you’re not okay with that, I think it can just eat yourself from inside, all the time, not happy about what you do on the court. I think my career, even if I finish tomorrow, is okay. If something happens, I will be fine with that, and I will still be a happy person. I will live my life good if I don’t win a Slam.

Svitolina will be up against Anna Bondar in the first round of the French Open. She has never progressed beyond the quarterfinals of this tournament, reaching the last eight five times, including last year.

The 31-year-old is a four-time semifinalist in Majors, last time reaching the stage at this year’s Australian Open and losing that match to eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka. Svitolina has five Big Titles to her name, last winning it in this year’s Italian Open by defeating Coco Gauff.

It was also her third victory in the Italian capital. Apart from the Rome event, Svitolina also reached two more finals, losing the Dubai Tennis Championships to Jessica Pegula and winning the ASB Classic by defeating Wang Xinyu.

Also read: Arthur Fils Opens Up on the Injury That Sidelined Him for Roland Garros