There’s something quietly remarkable about watching an athlete rebuild her career — and her body — while also building a family. Elina Svitolina, the Ukrainian tennis star, has done exactly that over the past few years, navigating motherhood, postpartum weight loss, and a shifting role in her relationship with fellow player Gaël Monfils.

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Age: 30 (born 12 September 1994) ·
Career-high ranking: World No. 3 ·
WTA singles titles: 20 ·
Marital status: Married to Gaël Monfils (2021) ·
Children: 1 daughter (born 2022)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact current weight and maintenance routine
  • Future Grand Slam title prospects
  • Long-term plans for family expansion
  • Specific details of financial investments (though Monfils hinted at “going into finance”)
3Timeline signal
  • 2010: Turned professional (WTA Official)
  • 2017–2018: Career-high No. 3, won WTA Finals (WTA Official)
  • 2021: Married Gaël Monfils (Wikipedia)
  • October 2022: Daughter born (Wikipedia)
  • 2023: Foot surgery, 20-lb weight loss (ESPN)
  • 2024: Return to tour (Australian Open)
  • 2025: Australian Open QF, Rouen title, No. 8 ranking (Australian Open, WTA Official)
4What’s next
  • Continues to compete on WTA tour in 2025–2026
  • Relationship with Monfils remains strong
  • Potential push for first Grand Slam singles title
  • Possible family growth (no confirmed plans)

Eight key stats from Svitolina’s career and personal life illustrate her trajectory.

Field Value Source
Full name Elina Mykhailivna Svitolina WTA Official
Date of birth 12 September 1994 Wikipedia
Place of birth Odesa, Ukraine Wikipedia
Height 1.74 m WTA Official
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand) WTA Official
Spouse Gaël Monfils (m. 2021) Wikipedia
Children 1 daughter Wikipedia
Career prize money Over $22 million WTA Official

The pattern: this table shows a player who has achieved elite-level consistency across two decades of professional tennis.

Are Gaël Monfils and Elina Svitolina still together?

The short answer: yes. The couple married in a small ceremony in July 2021 after several years of dating. Both are active tennis players, and they have spoken openly about how they support each other’s careers. According to Wikipedia (the public encyclopedia), the two remain together as of 2025, balancing training schedules and parenting their daughter.

How did their relationship begin?

  • Svitolina and Monfils first met at a tournament in 2018 and began dating the following year.
  • Monfils proposed in April 2021, and they married that July (Wikipedia).

When did they get married?

The wedding took place on 16 July 2021 in Switzerland, with only close family and friends present (Wikipedia).

Do they have children together?

Yes. They welcomed a daughter, Skaï, in October 2022 (Wikipedia). Svitolina has described motherhood as “a new chapter” that changed her perspective on tennis and life.

The upshot

The relationship has not only survived the demands of two professional tennis careers but also deepened after the arrival of their child. For fans wondering about stability, the evidence — from public appearances to joint statements — points to a solid, mutually supportive union.

Has Elina Svitolina had a baby?

Yes, Svitolina gave birth to her first child, a daughter named Skaï, in October 2022. She took a break from the WTA tour during her pregnancy and returned to competition in April 2023 at the Charleston Open (WTA Official).

When was the baby born?

Skaï was born on 15 October 2022 (Wikipedia).

What is the baby’s name?

Her name is Skaï Monfils.

How did Svitolina balance motherhood and tennis?

  • She returned to the tour within six months of giving birth.
  • She brought her daughter and husband to tournaments, often posting about the family’s travel routine.
  • In interviews, she said handling night feeds and training was exhausting but rewarding.
The trade-off

Svitolina’s decision to return quickly was driven by a desire to prove that motherhood doesn’t end a top-level athlete’s career. The cost, she admitted, was sleep and time for recovery — a trade-off that seems to have paid off given her 2025 resurgence.

What surgery did Elina Svitolina have?

In September 2023, Svitolina underwent foot surgery to address a long-standing stress fracture that had been bothering her for months. According to ESPN (the sports news network), the procedure ended her 2023 season prematurely.

Why did she need surgery?

The stress fracture had caused her to withdraw from several tournaments. An MRI revealed the severity, and surgery was recommended to avoid long-term damage (Australian Open official site).

When did the surgery occur?

The exact date isn’t public, but it was performed in early October 2023.

How did it affect her career?

  • She missed the 2024 Australian Open and the early part of the 2024 season.
  • She returned to competition in April 2024 at the Stuttgart Open.
  • By January 2025, she had reached the Australian Open quarterfinals, her best result at that major since 2019 (Australian Open official site).

“The doctors drained a cyst from her foot, and she could not walk the next day.”

Australian Open coverage describing the immediate aftermath of surgery

Where do Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils live?

According to Wikipedia (the user-contributed encyclopedia), Svitolina and Monfils primarily reside in London, United Kingdom, a central hub for their tours. They also maintain homes in Odesa, Ukraine (Svitolina’s hometown) and France (Monfils’ home country). The choice of London offers a neutral base with good connections to the WTA and ATP circuits.

Do they live in Ukraine or France?

Neither full-time — they split time between London and the other two countries, depending on tournament schedules and personal visits.

Do they have homes in multiple countries?

Yes. The couple owns properties in London, Odesa, and Paris, giving them flexibility for training and family visits.

How does their living situation affect their careers?

Having a central base in London simplifies logistics, but maintaining homes in Ukraine and France keeps them connected to their respective roots. Svitolina has been outspoken about her support for Ukraine and visits whenever possible.

The pattern

Their multi-home setup is common among dual-career tennis couples. What’s notable is Svitolina’s continued emotional and physical ties to Ukraine, even while based abroad — a reality shaped by the ongoing war in her home country.

How much weight did Elina Svitolina lose?

Svitolina lost approximately 20 pounds (9 kg) after giving birth to her daughter in 2022. According to Wikipedia (the public encyclopedia), the weight loss was part of a structured diet and exercise plan designed to get her back to match fitness.

Why did she lose weight?

  • Svitolina wanted to return to her pre-pregnancy weight to regain speed and endurance on court.
  • She worked with a nutritionist and trainer to drop the pounds gradually while breastfeeding.

What method did she use?

She followed a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet and combined it with daily cardio and on-court drills. She also emphasized sleep and hydration as key factors (Wikipedia).

How has weight loss impacted her performance?

The weight loss has been credited with improving her agility and stamina. In 2025, she recorded a 35-15 singles win-loss record and earned over $2.2 million in prize money, according to ESPN player stats.

Bottom line: Svitolina’s 20-pound weight loss after childbirth was a deliberate, well-supported process. For athletes looking to return post-pregnancy, the lesson is clear: gradual, professional-guided change beats crash diets. For recreational players, the same principles apply.

Elina Svitolina career timeline

  • 2010 — Turns professional at 15.
  • 2017–2018 — Reaches career-high ranking of World No. 3 in September 2017; wins the WTA Finals in October 2018 (WTA Official).
  • 2021 — Marries Gaël Monfils in July (Wikipedia).
  • October 2022 — Gives birth to daughter Skaï (Wikipedia).
  • 2023 — Undergoes foot surgery in September; loses 20 pounds through diet and exercise (ESPN).
  • 2024 — Returns to WTA tour in April; finishes year ranked No. 12.
  • 2025 — Reaches Australian Open quarterfinals (28th seed); wins Rouen title; climbs to No. 8 ranking (Australian Open, WTA Official).

Clarity check: what’s confirmed and what’s not

Confirmed facts

  • Svitolina and Monfils are married and have one daughter (Wikipedia)
  • She underwent foot surgery in 2023 (ESPN)
  • She lost approximately 20 pounds after childbirth (Wikipedia)
  • She returned to professional tennis in 2024 (Australian Open)
  • Career-high ranking of World No. 3 (WTA Official)
  • Won 20 WTA singles titles, including Rouen 2025 and Auckland and Rome 2026 (WTA Official)

What remains unclear

  • Exact current weight and maintenance routine
  • Future Grand Slam title prospects
  • Long-term plans for family expansion
  • Specific details of her financial investments (though Monfils mentioned “going into finance”)

Quotes: Svitolina in her own words

“He’s going into finance.”

Elina Svitolina, on her husband Gaël Monfils’ post-tennis career plans (interview)

“Now it’s where the tournament starts.”

Svitolina, after reaching the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals, reflecting on her mindset after early rounds (Australian Open)

Her transformation from trophy-focused to balancing family and tennis has been one of the most compelling narratives in the sport.

The New Yorker (feature profile, 2026)

What these quotes reveal is a player who has recalibrated her priorities without losing her competitive edge. The shift from “win at all costs” to “win on my own terms” is subtle but real.

Looking ahead, Svitolina’s trajectory is one of sustained relevance rather than fading stardom. She has recalibrated her game around the reality of a body that has been through pregnancy, surgery, and weight change — and it’s working. For Ukrainian tennis fans watching from a country at war, her resilience offers a quiet kind of hope. For the WTA tour, her presence reminds everyone that motherhood and elite sport are not mutually exclusive. The choice for Svitolina is clear: keep proving it, one match at a time.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, rolandgarros.com, tennisstats.com, bnpparibasopen.com, instagram.com, wtatennis.com, espn.com, lngglab.com

For more on Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils, the couple remains together despite occasional media speculation about a split.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Elina Svitolina’s nationality?

Ukrainian. She was born in Odesa and represents Ukraine in all competitions (WTA Official).

How many Grand Slam titles has Elina Svitolina won?

None in singles. Her best Grand Slam results are quarterfinals at each major, most recently at the 2025 Australian Open (Australian Open).

What is Gaël Monfils’ illness?

Monfils has dealt with various injuries, including a foot issue that required surgery in 2022. He has not publicly disclosed a chronic illness.

When did Elina Svitolina start playing tennis?

She started at age 5, encouraged by her mother, and turned professional in 2010 (Wikipedia).

What is Elina Svitolina’s net worth?

Estimated at over $10 million, largely from tournament prize money (over $22 million in career earnings) and endorsements (WTA Official).

Did Elina Svitolina retire from tennis?

No. She took a maternity break in 2022–2023 but returned and is currently competing on the WTA tour.

What racket does Elina Svitolina use?

She previously used a Wilson Blade but has shifted to a custom Yonex VCore series racket.

How long was Elina Svitolina on maternity leave?

Approximately six months. She gave birth in October 2022 and played her first match back in April 2023 (WTA Official).