Gael Monfils says Elina Svitolina "saved" his career and is the only reason why he is still a pro tennis player.
On the third episode of his podcast, the French tennis star hosted 40-year-old Gilles Simon, who retired from tennis after the 2023 season.
During their conversation, 38-year-old Monfils shared that if nor for his wife Svitolina, he would have probably called it quits five years ago during the COVID time because he simply wasn't finding any joy in competing in circumstances where everything was pretty limited.
Monfils and the Ukrainian tennis star started dating in 2019 and they tied the knot two years later.
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"Honestly, if I hadnt met Elina, I wouldve retired already no doubt about it. I think I wouldve called it quits after COVID. At that time, I was still in the top 10, but it meant nothing to me. Empty stadiums it was a different energy, and I just felt it wasnt for me anymore," Monfils told Simon.
Monfils was saved by Svitolina again in 2022
At the start of the 2022 season, the Frenchman won Adelaide and made the Australian Open quarterfinal but also sustained a very serious foot injury. In the rest of the year, he appeared in only five more tournaments and required surgery.
When Monfils returned in early 2023, he lost his first four matches and was sitting at a 1-7 record after seven tournaments played. But Svitolina - who gave birth in late 2022 - motivated him to stay in tennis so they could share some moments together on the court during her post-pregnancy comeback.
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"My wife literally saved me. She reignited that fire in me. You know, sometimes its burning bright, sometimes its barely a flame and she brought it back. So yes, to answer the question: she played a huge, decisive role in the fact that Im still playing tennis," Monfils said.
By late 2023, the Frenchman started playing decent again and he won Stockholm. This year, he won Adelaide - owns a 14-5 record - and is currently ranked at a respectable position of No. 42.
