Gael Monfils is serving more than just tennis brilliance at the Australian Open—he’s serving up some serious family goals! Known for his flair on the court, the Frenchman is on a roll in Melbourne, fresh off his ASB Classic title win and now storming into the fourth round of the year’s first Grand Slam. But while his sizzling tennis has fans buzzing, it’s his love for family that’s stealing hearts everywhere. Monfils hasn’t shied away from showing just how much his family means to him, and tennis stars like Paula Badosa and Ben Shelton are all in agreement. 

The Frenchman pulled an unexpected victory in the third round of his ongoing campaign by ousting Taylor Fritz in a four-setter match. But what followed after the match caught everyone’s attention. When quizzed if Monfils is looking to win the tournament, he dished an honest opinion in the post-match interview.

Speaking to the press, he said, “Win? No. To be honest with you, it’s not even a dream to win the tournament.” Continuing further, he shared that his dream is to live a happy and healthy life with his family around him. “My dream is to be old and with a lot of kids and healthy. That’s your dream I guess, for me to win a Slam. I’ll tell you my dream, my dream is to have an unbelievable family. Tennis is cool, you know. Of course, you want to have a goal and dream, whatever, but my dream is out there,” he added. And now, his colleagues are all in agreement with him. 

As soon as the video was shared on Instagram, Ben Shelton was one of the first to like it, thereby expressing his agreement. A similar gesture came from Chris Evert’s son, Alex Mill, who was quick to share it on his Instagram story. WTA Star Paula Badosa, meanwhile, resonated with Monfils’ statement with a four-word response. “🥹🫶 He really understood LIFE,” she wrote, sharing the video on her Instagram story. Coming back to Monfils’ statement, this is not the first time he has reflected such sentiments for his family. 

Taking to his Instagram on his 38th birthday, he posted a picture of himself with his wife Elina Svitolina, and daughter Skai, with a heartfelt caption. “Today, I celebrate my 38th birthday surrounded by the two most precious gifts of my life: my wife and my daughter. I am endlessly grateful for all the love that surrounds me. Each passing year reminds me of how fortunate and blessed I am. Thank you, life, for these treasures that light up my path.,” he wrote. Interestingly, it is not just Monfils who is depicting such love for his family. His wife, Svitolina, is also reciprocating her admiration in an adorable manner. 

Elina Svitolina is all love for husband Gael Monfils at the Australian Open

Just like Gael Monfils, his wife Elina Svitolina is also making a big leap at the Australian Open. The star player won her first two matches in straight sets. Despite losing the first set in her previous match against Italian dynamo Jasmine Paolini, she managed to outshine her in a thrilling three-setter setup, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0. But guess what? More than her own skills, Svitolina is crediting her husband for her campaign.

Speaking in the interview, she said, “It was a crazy battle today. Well, I would want to say that I got inspired after my husband’s win.” Besides, when quizzed by the interviewer during an on-court interview, if she had watched her husband play earlier in the day, Svitolina’s face lit up with a smile. “I watched a little bit of that match, of course, it was tough to miss,” she admitted. Her admiration continued even in the presser after the match and said, “Most of the big tournaments, we have each other by our sides. And it means a lot to have someone who understands what we are going through.”

As the tournament unfolds, it will be interesting to see if the couple manages to be each other’s strength and win more matches. Whether it’s a smile for their daughter or a heartfelt on-court romance with each other, the couple proves time and again that being a champion goes beyond trophies.