WATCH: Gael Monfils kisses his wife Elina Svitolina moments after winning his first tour title as a dad at Stockholm

Gael Monfils beat Pavel Kotov to win his first title of the season.

WATCH: Gael Monfils kisses his wife Elina Svitolina moments after winning his first tour title as a dad at Stockholm

Gael Monfils kisses wife Elina Svitolina after winning the Stockholm Open (Images via X)

French tennis player Gael Monfils clinched his first singles title of the season as the 37-year-old won the title in Stockholm on Sunday and then kissed his wife Elina Svitolina in jubilation. Monfils beat qualifier Pavel Kotov 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 in two hours and 35 minutes and became the oldest champion in the tournament’s history at 37 years of age. The Frenchman was more elated than ever. 

Monfils was emotional after his win. The 37-year-old straightaway ran to the stands after clinching the winner and hugged his mother. Monfils then hugged and kissed his wife Svitolina who was at the venue to cheer for him.

YouTube video

Monfils talked about the importance of having three ladies- his mother, his wife, and his daughter. The 37-year-old thanked his mother for being there and said that it is always special winning a title in front of her. Monfils then talked about the feeling of winning a title after becoming a father.

FS Video
Special week for me with 3 ladies. My mom, thank you. As always it’s nice to win a title in front of her. My wife Elina. Thank you. The last one my daughter Skaï who’s watching in front of the TV. It’s my first time as a father I’ve won a title. It’s very special.
said Monfils after the win in Stockholm.

Life comes to a full circle for Gael Monfils

As 37-year-old Gael Monfils clinched his first title of the season and 12th tour-level title in Stockholm, life came to a full circle for the Frenchman. Monfils had won his maiden tour-level title in Stockholm 12 years ago. Now, he won his 12th title in the same tournament where it all started for him.

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Gael Monfils with the Stockholm title in 2011 (on the left) and 2023 (on the right) (Image via Tennis Letter X)

The Frenchman was quick to realize this as he shared his thoughts about the same on social media. Monfils revealed how it feels to have won his 12th title in the same place where he won his first tournament after 12 years. Monfils called it an incredible coincidence. 

What an incredible coincidence! 12 years after winning the Stockholm tournament for the first time, I find myself once again on the top step of the podium. 12 years, 12 titles… it seems that the number 12 is my lucky number (team 15 forever)! But this title is all the more special because it’s the first one I’ve won as a father,
Wrote Monfils on X.

The Frenchman also thanked his coach and physio and hoped to win more tournaments together.

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