“If I hadn’t met Elina, I would’ve retired already…,” Gaël Monfils confessed while talking to Gilles Simon during a recent episode of his YouTube talk show. It was a rare glimpse into the emotional core of a man with power and flair. Love has defined Monfils’ career, and his bond with his wife, Svitolina, is beautifully mutual. It’s not just Elina who has proven to be Monfils’ pillar of strength; even the Frenchman has provided her with his consistent support, cheering her on from the courtside as she chases her dreams. Now, as Elina Svitolina ends a 2-year title drought, Monfils is right there by her side again, celebrating her triumph with pride and unwavering love.
Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina accomplished glory yesterday with a hard-fought victory over Olga Danilovic in the Rouen Open final. The 30-year-old WTA ace sealed the win in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6, showcasing her form. Svitolina dominated on serve, winning 62.7% of her service points, edging out Danilovic’s 54.8%.
The 30-year-old also converted 3 crucial break points to gain the upper hand, compared to her opponent’s two. But beyond the stats and silverware, what made the moment even more special was the presence of her biggest supporter: Gaël Monfils. The Frenchman celebrated every point, every emotion, and shared the joy of Svitolina’s title triumph.
Monfils later took to IG to share a heartwarming photo of himself and Elina Svitolina beaming beside her Rouen Open trophy. The caption read, “So happy and proud of my wife @elisvitolina for her win in Rouen @openrouen. Congrats, my love #18.
This isn’t the first time Monfils has publicly celebrated Svitolina’s triumphs; his love and pride have been constant, especially for her powerful comeback moments like this one.
After a fourth-round exit in Miami, Svitolina bounced back in Rouen, defeating Anhelina Kalinina, Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, and Elena-Gabriela Ruse to reach the final. The Ukrainian revealed that her husband had promised to be courtside if she made it that far. It was an emotional, motivating challenge that pushed her through the tournament and fueled her title-winning run.
“A big motivation for me was when Gael told me at the start of the tournament that he would come to the final if I reached the final. So he’ll probably come to support me tomorrow,” Svitolina said.
Following her Rouen triumph, which was her first since Strasbourg in 2023, Svitolina expressed heartfelt optimism and joy.
“I feel very good,” Elina Svitolina shares her thoughts after Rouen triumph
The Rouen Open title holds deep significance for Elina Svitolina, who has struggled to find consistent success on the court in 2025. Her journey back to top form has been anything but smooth. She began her 2025 season at the AO, where she made an impressive QF run but fell short against eventual champion Madison Keys in a tight three-set battle, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Her momentum faltered in the following months. At the Linz Open, Anna Blinkova ousted her in the R16, and in Qatar, she exited early after a straight-sets loss to Jessica Pegula. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships brought more heartbreak, as Svitolina lost another close match in the R32 against Clara Tauson.
Indian Wells offered a glimmer of hope, with Svitolina reaching the QF, but she eventually fell to rising star Mirra Andreeva. Her most recent appearance before Rouen came at the Miami Open, where the world’s second seed, Iga Swiatek, ended her campaign in the R16 with a 7-6, 6-3 victory.
With her back against the wall, Svitolina arrived in Rouen looking to turn the tide, and she did just that. After her win, she emotionally reflected on breaking her long trophy drought, celebrating the hard-earned title as a testament to her resilience and perseverance in the face of setbacks.
“I feel very good, it was a good tournament for me. Not an easy final, but very happy I could win all my matches in two sets and play good matches. I’m happy with the start of the season. I feel confident about my game, I trust my game. The way it was from the beginning of the tournament, some players played really well, but I stayed calm and kept fighting,” Svitolina said.
With the win, the World No. 3 extends her remarkable record in WTA singles finals to an impressive 18-4. As the clay court season picks up momentum, all eyes will be on Svitolina to see if she can carry this resurgence into the bigger tournaments ahead.
The post Wife Elina Svitolina’s Rouen Triumph Pumps Gael Monfils as He Pens a Special Tribute to His Partner appeared first on EssentiallySports.
