Sports · Tennis · 12 hrs ago
Svitolina says she is finding happy moments during a difficult year
Elina Svitolina says she has had a tough year as she prepares to compete at the WTA Finals.
The Ukrainian tennis player announced last month that she and her husband, French player Gaël Monfils, had decided to separate.
Svitolina cited the war in Ukraine as one factor in the separation.
The couple married in 2021 and have a daughter, Skai, who was born in 2022.
After Svitolina faced harsh criticism online, Monfils defended her and called the reaction unkind and venomous.
She says she focuses on what she can control and looks for happy moments with people around her.
Svitolina is set to play Mirra Andreeva in her opening match at the WTA Finals, her first competition since announcing the separation.
Elina Svitolina said she has had a difficult year outside tennis and is trying to find happy moments day by day.
She spoke at a pre-tournament press conference ahead of the 2026 WTA Finals.
Svitolina said living in the public eye brings scrutiny and that she focuses on what she can control.
Last month, she announced that she and her husband, Gael Monfils, had decided to separate.
She is due to face world No 3 Mirra Andreeva in her opening match on Monday.
- Who
- Elina Svitolina, a Ukrainian tennis player.
- What
- She said she has had a difficult year and is trying to find happy moments.
- When
- Ahead of the 2026 WTA Finals; the article was published on November 9, 2026.
- Where
- At a pre-tournament press conference for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
- Why
- She cited difficulties outside tennis, including life in the public eye. She said she focuses on what she can control.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Svitolina and Gael Monfils began dating.
Svitolina and Monfils got married.
Svitolina and Monfils welcomed their daughter, Skai.
Svitolina announced that she and Monfils had decided to separate.
Svitolina spoke about her difficult year at a pre-tournament press conference.
Svitolina was due to play Mirra Andreeva in her opening match.
- Tournament
- 2026 WTA Finals
- Opening opponent
- Mirra Andreeva, world No 3
- WTA Tour titles
- 20
- Daughter
- Skai, born in October 2022
- Separation announcement
- Last month
1 source
What people are saying
I’ve had a tough year with different things in my head
Living in the public eye is not an easy task.
I try just to focus on the things that I can control, and day by day try to find my happy moments.
But the happy moments that I can create with the people around me — it’s things that I can control and live with.