Gael Monfils defends Elina Svitolina after split backlash
Monfils posted an Instagram statement defending his ex-wife against harsh online criticism about their public separation.
Gael Monfils defended Elina Svitolina on social media. Svitolina faced online attacks after their separation.
Svitolina said the war in Ukraine harmed her mental health. Svitolina gave this as a reason for the split.
Critics questioned her reasons and asked for more explanation. Monfils posted a statement on Instagram in response.
He asked fans to show grace. He reminded them the couple are human beings dealing with personal struggles behind closed doors.
The post went viral with tens of thousands of reactions. Fellow tennis players and fans praised it as the classiest statement.
Monfils retired from professional tennis shortly after the split. He said the sport had lost all meaning for him.
- World No.6
- Svitolina's ranking
- More than 4.5 years
- War timeline
- Skaï
- Their daughter
Why it mattersThe post shows how to respond to online abuse with dignity. It offers a rare example of defending someone instead of piling on.
AustraliaAustralians follow tennis closely; this story has trended locally and shows how prominent athletes handle personal crises in the age of social media.
Corroborated bythenightly.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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