Journalist reveals heartbreaking Gael Monfils story that shines new light on Elina Svitolina divorce
A French journalist has recalled his experience at a Gael Monfils press conference - during the 2021 Australian Open - and shed further light on his countryman’s divorce from Elina Svitolina.
Monfils shocked the tennis world earlier in October, when it emerged, through database records, that he had retired from the sport; this week, Svitolina announced their divorce.
The Frenchman was previously scheduled to play in two farewell tournaments in Lyon and Paris. Now, a French journalist has recalled his interaction with Monfils in 2021, and shone a light on his countryman’s decision to retire after his divorce with Svitolina.
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French journalist describes heartbreaking Gael Monfils scenes at Australian Open 2021
As relayed by Tennis World, the journalist reminisced on the 2021 Australian Open, when Monfils suffered a crushing first-round defeat to, at the time, world No.86 Emil Ruusuvori.
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After the match, Monfils was visibly desolate, telling journalists: “No confidence… I am [being] honest in telling you that I have no confidence. I don’t feel good, it shows. I don’t need to say more.”
At the time, the Frenchman was believed to be pained by the distance between himself and his family, with the pandemic making life difficult for athletes to bring their loved ones with them to Melbourne.
The French journalist recalled those same difficulties, revealing that he was the sole French journalist in Australia for the tournament.
"Of all the moments in Gael Monfils' career, it was his tears in Melbourne that affected me the most. It was February 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic,” began the Frenchman.
“I had spent fourteen days in quarantine in a hotel room and was the only French journalist in Australia,” said the reporter, who attended the presser and asked Monfils a question.
When quizzed by his fellow countryman as to what he clings on to hope for in these moments of “no confidence,” Monfils replied with hesitation.
“To nothing. I will give my mother’s simple sentence,” he began, before losing all composure and beginning to cry at the French journalist’s question.
“She will tell me: ‘We must continue to train, and it will come back. This is the only trick,” he resumed.
French journalist describes Gael Monfils’ character and explains tennis retirement after Elina Svitolina split
Monfils lost in five sets to Ruusuvori at the Australian Open, and asked journalists to show him understanding in the post-match press conference.
"I feel judged. I'm already down, and you're shooting at me," said the Frenchman, who appeared to have lost all his joy - the aspect of Monfils’ game that made him a fan favourite - in Melbourne.
"Generous, sensitive and fragile, he never knew how to be good on the court without being happy off it,” recalled the French journalist. “That is, without doubt, part of the explanation for this early retirement that nobody saw coming. His last 'Monfiserie.’”
In an Instagram post on Monday, his ex-wife, Svitolina, wrote: “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.
"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.
“Gael listened. He has respected what I need with a strength and grace I will never forget. Gael has loved me through my greatest joys and my darkest moments, and I have loved him with all my heart,” wrote the Ukrainian.
Despite enduring personal and professional struggles, Monfils is anticipated to make his tennis return in an exhibition celebrating three-time Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka’s retirement.
That event is slated to take place on December 19 in Geneva. Two of the strongest competitors from Monfils’ era, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, are expected to play with the Frenchman.
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Topics: Tennis, Australian Open
Kedar Bayley