Tennis power couple Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils are not just sharing their personal lives, but also the professional turf, as they compete in the Miami Open. Both have successfully secured their spots in the last 16 of their respective draws, a feat made even more special as they’ve been able to prepare together on the court.
Svitolina, known for her lightning-fast footwork, triumphed over Karolina Muchova in a gripping match that ended 6-2 3-6 6-2. Just a few breathless hours later, Monfils held his own in a nail-biting clash against Jaume Munar, eventually securing victory with a deciding set tie-break, and a final score of 7-5 5-7 7-6 (1).
This husband and wife duo’s off-court chemistry clearly translates into their practice sessions. The world’s No.22 Svitolina, aged 30, expressed her delight at their shared court time. She revealed that both she and Monfils relish their practice games together, though she admitted that the benefits might be slightly skewed in her favor.
“It was a good practice,” she confessed, adding that she thoroughly enjoys their joint training sessions. “I feel like for me, it’s very good, but for him, I’m not so sure.”
Svitolina, the Ukrainian star player, is slated to return to the court in the early hours of Tuesday to face second seed Iga Swiatek. She emphasized that practicing with her husband Monfils, aged 38, has given her a significant boost for her upcoming match against the Pole. Svitolina believes that this shared practice has helped her fine-tune her footwork, a critical aspect of her game.
Meanwhile, Monfils is scheduled to play against Sebastian Korda later the same day. Following their matches in Indian Wells, the couple traveled to Miami with their two-year-old daughter, Skai.
While in California, Svitolina reflected on the perks of having her family by her side on the tour. The couple tied the knot in July 2021, two years after going public with their relationship.
“There is time for training and recovery and just completely switch off from everything,” she said. “Also time with my family. I have my daughter here, Gael is here also, so it’s nice to sometimes switch off completely from what’s going on.”
In the high-stakes world of professional tennis, Svitolina and Monfils are not just carving out successful careers, but also creating a unique, family-oriented lifestyle that transcends the boundaries of the sport.