Elina Svitolina struggled to hold back tears as her husband Gaël Monfils bid an emotional farewell to the French Open after suffering a loss in the first round. During the special on-court ceremony that followed, the Frenchman paid tribute to Svitolina with touching words about their family.
Making his 19th and final appearance at his home Slam, Monfils locked horns with fellow Frenchman Hugo Gaston in the first round. After losing the first two sets, Monfils thrilled the crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier with a spectacular comeback to force a decider. However, Gaston ultimately claimed a 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0 victory, bringing an end to the 39-year-old’s memorable journey at the French Open.
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Monfils’ legacy at the clay-court Major was then celebrated in a special ceremony, featuring a heartwarming video tribute from players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz, among others.
The Frenchman also delivered an emotional speech, which included a special tribute to Svitolina, who was left teary-eyed in his player’s box as he expressed gratitude for her unwavering support and for the gift of their daughter, Skaï.
“I would like to thank my wife because without her, I maybe wouldn’t be still here tonight. We’ve been together 8 beautiful years, you have supported me, raised me up, loved me, and you gave me the greatest gift in our daughter. I love you,” he said.
