'Tennis is no longer important!' The full story behind the star couple who canceled his farewell match amid the shock of their divorce has been revealed

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Elina Sviatolina (32, Ukraine) and Gael Monfils (40, France), a star couple representing the world tennis scene who were widely loved as a devoted pair, have finally put an end to their marriage of more than five years. It has also come to light that Monfils' recent sudden retirement and the cancellation of his farewell match, which had puzzled fans, were due to the shock of their divorce.

On the 19th (Korean time), Sviatolina announced on her social media that she was ending her marriage with Monfils, describing it as "the hardest news I have ever had to share."

The couple began dating in 2019, got engaged in April 2021, and tied the knot in July of that year. In particular, after announcing their pregnancy in May 2022, they welcomed their first daughter, Skai, in October of that year, demonstrating a strong family bond both on and off the court.

Sviatolina spoke about the extreme pain that the war in her home country of Ukraine had caused to her mental health and daily life, stating that Monfils had been a steadfast pillar of support while she took a break from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour to focus on recovery. However, she explained the background of their separation by saying, "Some battles take place deep within, and no one else's love can fight them for you," adding that as time passed, she realized she needed to find herself again, a conclusion she reached was impossible within her current marriage.

She added, "We built a beautiful life together and received our most precious gift, our daughter Skai." She continued, "The marriage is ending, but our family is not. We will remain by her side as parents without fail at every step of her life."

This announcement has also clarified the full story behind Monfils' sudden retirement, which had recently left the tennis world bewildered. The 40-year-old veteran, who had originally planned to leave the court at the end of this season, was expected to hold a grand farewell match at the Paris Masters, opening on October 31, receiving warm cheers from fans in his home country of France.

However, Monfils withdrew from both the Lyon tournament and the Paris Masters, which he had been scheduled to play in, and abruptly declared his retirement by adding his name to the retired player list of the International Testing Integrity Agency (ITIA) as of the 5th.

According to French media such as L'Equipe, Monfils was hit with an unbearable shock upon hearing Sviatolina's intention to divorce, and at that moment, tennis ceased to have any meaning for him. Plunged into a psychological panic so severe that he could not compete normally, he ultimately decided to rush his name onto the retirement list, skipping even a final farewell to his home fans.

Sighs and words of comfort from tennis fans around the world are pouring in over the regrettable separation and bitter behind-the-scenes story of the "tennis star couple" who supported each other on and off the court, providing countless moments of inspiration.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original