Gaël Monfils shed tears after reading wife's note to their 3-year-old: 'Your dad means so much...'

Tennis legend Gaël Monfils is currently on his farewell tour, as the 39-year-old athlete has already confirmed his retirement at the end of the 2026 season. Although the last time we will see the Frenchman in action is still a few months away, his fans saw him in his last French Open appearance as he bowed out after a defeat to Hugo Gaston. While this was an emotional moment in itself, the actual one came days before the game during a special tribute event when Monfils read a letter from his wife and fellow tennis star, Elina Svitolina, for their daughter, Skai, according to a report by Heavy on May 25, 2026.

Svitolina's tribute to her husband

The night was full of celebration, including an exhibition match at Court Philippe Chatrier, honoring Monfils' contribution to tennis. And as you'd expect, a flurry of stars, including Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, among others, showed up to pay their respects to one of the most loved players. However, things took an emotional turn when Monfils read a heartfelt letter that his wife, fellow tennis star Svitolina, had penned for their daughter Skaï. The letter showcased her feelings about Monfils' career and how she'd tell that to their kid.

The heartfelt letter

Of course, upon reading this, neither Monfils nor Svitolina could hide their emotions. "A few days from now, something very special is going to happen, right here in Paris. You’re only three years old, so a little too young still to know about it :)," the letter read. “But I am writing you this letter, with the hope that one day you will read your mom’s thoughts and then you will understand. You will understand why your dad means so much to so many people around the world. You will understand why his career has been such an amazing one… and why his final Roland Garros is such a beautiful moment," Svitolina added. 

And that's how I met your dad

The Ukrainian star didn't stop there. In fact, she further penned her feelings, calling Monfils "the best magician." Additionally, she complimented her husband's creativity, speed, intelligence, and professional abilities, which set him apart from the rest. She also revealed that, as a young player, she always looked up to Monfils, and if someone told her back then he'd marry that same star, she wouldn't have believed them. But tennis brought them together, as the couple first met in New York. Later, Svitolina and Monfils met again in Paris, where they hit it off almost immediately. "And now it’s almost five years after that… it’s crazy to believe. We’ve been through so much as a couple. (And since you were born, as a trio!!!) And I feel so lucky to be on this adventure with your dad," she confessed.

He fought against all odds

The letter also talked about Monfils' struggles. After all, being a Black man from France and wanting to make a career in tennis wasn't easy for him. But Monfils defied all those odds and handled all the adversities thrown his way with grace, something his wife truly appreciates about him. "...with so many qualities worth celebrating… I think it can be forgotten to talk enough about tennis. And to say that his tennis on its own is worth celebrating, it’s a big understatement," Svitolina added.

Spousal support and career success

Apart from the workplace support, research (by Anna Carmella G. Ocampo, Simon Lloyd D. Restubog, Maria Emma Liwag, Lu Wang, and Claire Petelczyc) found that spousal support is also significant for career success. When a person feels supported by their partner or spouse, they become more career-adaptable, which then leads to both subjective and objective career success, the researchers concluded. Now, if we relate it to Monfils' journey, he was already a star sportsman before meeting his wife, but her love and support definitely helped him take his career a step further. 

'A lucky man,' claim readers

Meanwhile, praising the couple, @geoffdaus wrote, "What a beautiful couple! Just love both of these humans! Congrats to @iamgaelmonfils and @elisvitolina. You both inspire me and inspire the beautiful sport of tennis." Similarly, @ngbach8 commented, "What a beautiful, soulful, and talented couple. A winning match indeed! Pun intended."

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