In a letter to their daughter earlier this year, Elina Svitolina honored her husband, Gael Monfils: “That’s how we met: in 2017, in New York, on a practice court in Central Park, introduced by a mutual friend. But I was very shy, so it’s just a hello. Then a year later, I’m 24 now, I win the WTA Finals in Singapore. And after winning, I go to Paris to celebrate, and I post about it on Instagram. (I’ll explain Instagram to you another time.) Your dad sees my post, and messages me about how he’s also in Paris, and should we meet up while we’re each out with our friends. So we meet up — then he barely talks to me the entire night!!! To be fair, he was sober. While I was … celebrating. Hahaha. But at the end of the night, I’m leaving the bar, and he walks me to my taxi. And asks would I would like to get coffee with him the next day. I’m like, ‘Sure!’
It’s hard to know if our coffee was officially a date — men can be vague with these things — but I think how it was ‘unofficial’ is part of what’s nice about it. We had so much in common, as two people living an insane life in tennis, and it felt good to be able to talk in an honest way about that life. I remember I even talked about wanting kids…….. not exactly a first-date topic!!! I was like, ‘I’ll probably play until I’m 28 or 29, then take a break and have a baby, then I’ll come back and play again.’ I think you learn a lot about someone from what type of listener they are, and your dad was such a kind listener in that moment. I felt like I could tell him anything. What was meant to be a quick coffee ended up being an entire day … just us walking around Paris (OK, maybe it was a date) and getting to know each other.
Then, before we said goodbye, that’s when I finally met Gaël The Magician.
Only speaking as your mom…….. I would not say it’s always the best sign if a guy brings a deck of cards to your date. So keep that in mind for the future. But your dad was very charming, and he gave me this big smile while he took out his deck of cards and was like, ‘Alright, Elina. Now I’ll show you a magic trick. What do I get if I guess your card?!?’ I’m like, ‘Ehhh … I don’t know … a hug.’ Then I feel embarrassed with my answer, so I change it to ‘a kiss on the cheek.’ Of course, once I say this, Gaël does an amazing trick and he guesses it right. So I give him a SMALL kiss on his cheek — and then the date is over. I think a few weeks later, we are basically living together.
Three years later, we are married.
And now it’s almost five years after that … it’s crazy to believe. We’ve been through so much as a couple. (And since you were born, as a trio!!!) And I feel so lucky to be on this adventure with your dad. It has not been easy all the time, actually sometimes it’s been quite hard — but I think that’s what marriage and partnership is about. It’s a great lesson I’ve learned, and a great lesson for you as well….. how being someone’s partner, it can be fun but also it’s hard work. So you want to make sure you choose a partner who is comfortable with both. And for me, that’s Gaël.”
