Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils relationship timeline: Engagement, wedding and raising a daughter while competing on the ATP and WTA Tours

Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils have spent most of their lives inside the same world — professional tennis. Both turned professional as teenagers. Both climbed into the top tier of their respective tours. Svitolina reached World No. 3 and built a career on consistency, discipline and mental strength. Monfils, a former World No. 6, became known for his athleticism and charisma, drawing crowds wherever he played. For more than a decade, they crossed paths at the same Grand Slams, the same practice courts and the same player lounges. They understood the travel grind, the pressure, the loneliness and the expectations that come with elite sport. Long before they became a couple, they understood each other’s lives.

From engagement to parenthood

Their relationship began around 2018. What started as friendly conversations slowly turned into something more serious. By 2019, they made their relationship public. Fans were given a closer look when they launched their joint Instagram account, G.E.M.S. Life. It was light-hearted and honest: cooking videos, training clips, jokes, and the reality of life on tour. It made them rather relatable.
In April 2021, they announced they were engaged. It was quiet and personal, just a photo and a short message. Three months later, on July 16, 2021, they got married in the picturesque Geneva. The ceremony was private and elegant, with close family and friends in attendance.
In May 2022, they revealed they were expecting their first child. They announced it with the caption: "With a heart full of love and happiness, we are delighted to announce that we are expecting a baby girl in October." Later that year, their daughter Skaï was born. Svitolina stepped away from tennis during her pregnancy. Monfils continued playing but made it clear that family came first. What impressed many fans was what happened next. Svitolina returned to the tour after giving birth and proved she could still compete at the highest level. Monfils kept playing too, and often said that becoming a father changed the way he looks at the game and life.
Today, they remain one of tennis’s most admired couples. They travel when possible with their daughter, support each other at tournaments and continue competing on the sport’s biggest stages. Their story is not built on drama. It is built on understanding, shared ambition and steady commitment. Two athletes who found love in the middle of a demanding career — and chose to grow together, season after season.

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