Elina Svitolina is in top form, but her prime might be fleeting. Not too long ago, she said, “I feel like I’m fit, I’m playing well, I’m mentally very locked in for the tournaments. I just want to find this edge and try to challenge these big players, to become one of them again.” And it’s true! The tennis mom is making waves this season with her on-court persona. She’s been consistent, reaching the quarters and semis at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Madrid, Rome, and now the French Open! Her Roland Garros campaign didn’t last long, but she’s not giving up just yet. Still, age and personal goals might soon take precedence.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian faced a tough straight-sets loss against the defending champion, Iga Swiatek. But she’s not too down about it. During her post-match press interview, she was asked an interesting question: Would she consider playing longer than her husband and ATP pro, Gael Monfils? She’s already 30 and became a mom in October 2022. She’s got other plans.
She said, via The Tennis Letter on X, “No [laughing]… I wouldn’t want to play that long . Because obviously, I want to have more kids. I want to just have a happy retirement and not play that much . For me, being on the tour for so many years, it sometimes can be difficult. It can be lonely. Sometimes it can have tough moments. I have so many things outside of tennis. For me, I will be fine to stop earlier than Gael’s age now [smiling].” Right now, Monfils is 38! So maybe fans have another eight years before Svitolina hangs up her racket.
Elina Svitolina says she doesn’t want to play tennis as long as Gael Monfils
“I was wondering, would you like to play older than Gael? He’s already 38. Will you try to beat him and outlast him in that regard?”
Elina: “No [laughing]… I wouldn’t want to play that long .… pic.twitter.com/Yb4qbUqlKm
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) June 3, 2025
Not to mention, she’s just found her footing again! She won a title this year at Rouen. It was her second win as a mother on tour and her first since the Internationaux de Strasbourg in 2023! Her French Open run was incredible, too.
The 30-year-old cruised through the tournament without dropping a set until her fourth-round clash with Jasmine Paolini. She trailed by a set and a break, facing a tough challenge. Remarkably, she saved three match points in the second set, showing incredible resilience. After a tense battle, she pulled off a 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-1 victory in two hours and 27 minutes. With this win, she advanced to the quarterfinals in Paris for the fifth time in her 12 appearances—a truly impressive achievement!
So while retirement isn’t on the table right now, what’s next for the Ukrainian? Only time will tell!
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