Gael Monfils makes heartbreaking admission after splitting up from Elina Svitolina
Gael Monfils has confessed that his separation from Elina Svitolina left him "not psychologically well" while baring all to fans on a Twitch live stream on Monday evening.
The Frenchman took to Twitch after his sudden retirement from tennis and divorce from Svitolina, promising fans: “I’ll tell you everything.”
Monfils discussed plans for a better, more fan-oriented tennis farewell, then made a heartbreaking admission about the toll his split from the Ukrainian has taken on him, claiming: “I eat less.”
Gael Monfils tells all in aftermath of shock retirement and Elina Svitolina divorce
At the Frenchman’s best, he obtained a career-high ranking of world No. 6, but was never able to challenge the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic for Grand Slam glory.
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Monfils will go down in tennis history as, at least, one of the few athletes that troubled the ‘Big 3,’ which makes his recent confessions on Twitch all the more tragic.
The 40-year-old began: “Living a break-up is not easy, and when it happens, I can’t train as I want. I’m not at my best psychologically. The separation with Elina hurt me a lot.
“We are human, we have our own problems, and we do not necessarily control what we want. The separation did not leave me without reaction.
“I’m not going to pretend [I’m at my best]... I eat less, I do everything less well,” confessed Monfils. “I talk to my family and loved ones, and this prompted me to ask myself the question.
“‘Am I going to be strong enough? In my training, my preparation?’ It’s already very hard to get back on the field for the end of your career, with emotions you don’t know.
“And when you’re also touched, and you have to project yourself, I just didn’t find it possible to play,” confessed Monfils, who retired in, before news of his split from Svitolina broke, bizarre fashion.
The Frenchman’s retirement was discovered by fans after his name appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s list of retired players, which became effective on October 5.
Before that time, followers of Monfils’ career anticipated the 40-year-old to say farewell at two home tournaments in Lyon and Paris, where the Frenchman was expected to retire.
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Gael Monfils offers hope for fans with farewell plans after retirement and Elina Svitolina split
Organisers for the Lyon tournament confirmed to fans that their discovery was real, and that Monfils would not participate for personal reasons.
As it so transpired, his separation from fellow tennis star Svitolina was the reason; however, Monfils has now offered hope to tennis fans ahead of next week’s Paris Masters.
“Of course, I wasn’t going to leave like that,” said the Frenchman. “I want to thank the family of French tennis that supported me.
“At the Paris Masters, on November 3, after the first match of the night session, there will be a tribute to my career - a big show - and I will be able to say goodbye to you in person.
Organisers of the tournament confirmed Monfils’ announcement, writing on social media: “One last time, Paris will celebrate Gael.
“On November 3, the Rolex Paris Masters will pay tribute to Gael Monfils and his extraordinary career, on the very court where he penned some of the most beautiful chapters of his story.”
Earlier this month, a journalist recalled a heartbreaking Monfils story - from an emotionally-charged press conference at the 2021 Australian Open - that revealed plenty about the Frenchman’s character.
While Monfils isn’t doing too well at present, his legacy will always be preserved by tennis history, and long-time followers of the 40-year-old’s career will have the opportunity to show him that in Paris.
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Topics: Tennis
Kedar Bayley