Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils are perhaps one of the most celebrated couples in the tennis world. While they may have tied the knot in 2021, their story started long before that on a night out in Paris that almost didn’t happen. Their journey is as heartwarming as seeing them supporting each other on the tennis court, but the question is: how did their G.E.M.S. story unfold?

The WTA and ATP Tour may not have the exact same schedule, but there are enough overlaps for players to meet and form a friendship (or, in this case, a relationship). Interestingly, though, Svitolina and Monfils didn’t meet during the season. They met right after the Ukrainian capped off one of the best seasons of her career with a WTA Finals title in Singapore, defeating Sloane Stephens, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. By “meet,” we don’t mean they never met before their Paris encounter. In Gael Monfils’ words, he met “the real Elina” that night.

After Eline Svitolina won in Singapore, she returned to Paris, and when Monfils realized that, he texted her. “You went to Paris, I was in Paris at that time – both for a different reason actually. And then I texted you to say, ‘I think I am going out with some friends if you want to have a drink with us,” Monfils revealed in a 2021 interview with ATP. He jokingly added, “Then you definitely said yes. Of course!”

However, Svitolina had initially refused. “No, no, no. At first, I didn’t want to do it because I was so jet-lagged after Singapore,” said Elina. In a 2019 interview, she explained the same: “I [had known] Gael for some time because we constantly play the same tournaments. But we were speaking [to] each other very less. He knew I [was in] a relationship for a long time. And at the end of last year, I went celebrating with my friends in Paris. I posted a photo on Instagram…”

“…and Gael texted me. We met each other, and we could not split anymore. It was an amazing coincidence that both of us were in Paris at the same time. I live in London now, and Gael, despite [being] from Paris, lives in Geneva.” Explaining what it was like to spend time together in Paris, Gael Monfils revealed, “It was nice. And it was the first time we could talk outside of tennis. We really met each other, [I] met the real Elina. And I think [she] met the real me.” Since then, they’ve been inseparable.

After the 2019 Wimbledon, they went to Ukraine, Svitolina’s birth country: “That was our first trip together in Ukraine.” Elina, who was hesitant at first, was eventually thankful to have gotten into a relationship with a sportsperson rather than someone not connected with the sport. She feels this makes it easier for them to understand each other’s difficulties and provide support whenever they need it.

The couple tied the knot on July 19, 2021, and welcomed their daughter Skai in October of the following year. Since then, they’ve successfully balanced their roles as parents and professional tennis players. Monfils and Svitolina have consistently demonstrated their love and support for each other through various heartwarming moments.

G.E.M.S. Life: Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils acknowledge each other’s efforts

During the 2024 French Open, Elina Svitolina showed her love for her husband and asked the French crowd to support Monfils. She said, “We do not know how many years we are both going to be playing on tour. We try to enjoy ourselves. I enjoy watching him. Hopefully, we will see you all tonight with amazing support.” Although the 37-year-old Frenchman lost in the second round in Paris, he made a valiant effort to entertain the crowd with his trademark unorthodox style of play.

Even Monfils has spoken multiple times about how proud he was to see Elina Svitolina’s strong comeback after giving birth in 2022. “She’s an excellent and great mother, and she managed it well on the court. I’m surprised how well she came back and how strong she is mentally and physically. It’s just amazing.” There’s no question that making a comeback after having a child and returning to your previous form is one of the toughest things to achieve in tennis. But Svitolina has done it like the pro she is.

That said, their first meeting needed a lot of effort from the Frenchman, but since then, it has been a joyous ride for both of them. They have also created a joint Instagram account named G.E.M.S. Life, where they first made their relationship public following an awkward interview Svitolina had to give at the 2019 Australian Open. And now, it’s a platform to share their moments with their fans.