It’s been game, set, love for Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina. The tennis power couple has been together since 2019, but did you know their love story wasn’t all smooth sailing? After dating for two years, they decided to “take a break”. It didn’t last long, though, as they got back together just months later. And guess what? Monfils also put a ring on it soon after they reunited. They tied the knot in 2021 and welcomed their daughter, Skai, in 2022. So who’s the one who made the first move in this beautiful love story?

On Saturday, Monfils and Svitolina appeared in a video on the BNP Paribas Open’s official Instagram account, where they playfully debated who made the first move. “I think it’s a little tricky because I think I said ‘I love you’ first,” Monfils said. “But the first move is a little tricky, to be honest. Because it’s about who sent the first text.” Svitolina wasn’t having it.

She quickly corrected him, saying, “I didn’t send you any text. What are you talking about? You text me in New York, and you text me in Beijing and in Paris.” Monfils tried to defend himself, but in the end, he gave in.

“Apparently, it’s me. I will take it…Happy wife, happy life…I will take all the credit. Guys, watching us, never disagree with your wife. There are plenty of battles you can win. Tell her you said ‘I love you’ first. Tell her you texted her first. Make her happy.”

So how did it all begin? A drive down memory lane confirms that it was actually the French tennis player who sent the first text.

Like many modern romances, their story started online. They had known of each other for a while, but it wasn’t until Svitolina posted a picture of herself in Paris that Monfils decided to shoot his shot. He sent her a message while she was in his home country. “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 because I live in London now, and Gael, despite being from Paris, lives in Geneva,” Svitolina said, as per Tennis World USA.

And though tennis is a part of both their lives, Monfils made a startling revelation on his priorities.

Gael Monfils picks family over Grand Slams

Gael Monfils has had an impressive career. The 38-year-old tennis player reached the semi-finals at the 2008 French Open and the 2016 US Open, and he played in at least one ATP Tour final every year from 2005 to 2023. But at this stage of his career, his priorities have shifted.

In the third round at the Australian Open, the French tennis star made history. Monfils defeated Taylor Fritz, becoming the third-oldest player (behind Ken Rosewall twice) to defeat a top-five opponent at a major in the history of the PIF ATP Rankings (since 1973). But after his victory, he made a surprising revelation.

“Win? No! To be honest with you, it’s not even a dream to win the tournament. My dream is to be old and healthy! I tell you my dream is to have an unbelievable family! Tennis, it’s cool! Of course, you want a gold dream, whatever. But my dream is out there,” he said (via Tennis Letter X).

Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina are both competing at Indian Wells. Monfils will face Sebastian Korda in the second round on March 9, while Svitolina is set to play Danielle Collins the same day. Do you think the power couple can make a deep run in the Californian desert?