We call this a “power couple”. Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina are married, parents and on the verge of winning the Australian Open in a few days. Just that. Qualified for the round of 16 of the tournament after having each taken turns beating the 4th in the world in their respective category, the two fans of the little yellow ball are heading in the same direction.
Their tickets for the next stage in hand, Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina took advantage of this sunny Sunday to train together on court 16 at Melbourne Park. In the images from this session, the couple proved their strength and unity, boosted by happiness since the birth of their daughter Skaï, in October 2022.
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For Gaël and Elina, a mantra: family
At 38 years old, Gaël Monfils is officially the oldest athlete to win a tournament on the main circuit since 1977 with his victory at the ATP 250 in Auckland on January 11. Far from wanting to retire, the Frenchman has nevertheless taken a step back from his career since the birth of his daughter.
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-In August 2023, after having bowed to the Russian Andrey Rublev in the 2nd round of the US Open, “La Monf” confided to “L’Équipe” that he no longer wanted to make this sacrifice: “I will not do it again because it It's too hard. Mentally and physically, but especially mentally. It's too hard to be so far away from my daughter. It’s an aspect of the job that changes things enormously. »
The presence of his wife Elina Svitolina in the competition this year certainly tipped the scales for Gaël Monfils who, despite his words, is back in a tournament thousands of kilometers from Trélex, his cocoon in Switzerland. At only 2 years old, there is little chance that little Skaï will be present in the stands to applaud her parents, one day perhaps?
