“Great mother, tough woman” – Monfils amazed by wife Svitolina

Monfils paid a tribute to his wife after joining her in the second round of the Miami Open

Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils at the 2019 US Open Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic

French tennis star Gael Monfils said he is amazed by his wife Elina Svitolina‘s ability to juggle her roles as a mother, a tennis player and a crusader for her country, Ukraine.

Monfils won his first round match at the Miami Open on Thursday, joining Svitolina, who received a first-round bye, into the round of 64.

Later during his press conference, Monfils was full of praise for his wife, the former world No 3 who is already back inside the top 20, less than a year after returning from the birth of her first child.

I’m surprised how well she came back, how strong she is mentally and physically. It’s just amazing.

“She’s a great mother first. That’s first. People want to put tennis first but I think she’s a great mother first. This is the most important for me as her husband because of course we are a tennis couple but life is beyond our sport,” Monfils told reporters in Miami. “She’s an excellent and great mother and as you said she managed it well on the court. I’m surprised how well she came back, how strong she is mentally and physically. It’s just amazing.

“I can’t really tell you so much because even me I’m amazed and of course with the Ukraine situation is even crazy with everything that she put for our country through herself and to be able to manage all of three but there’s many others but let’s say all of three we keep it short. It’s just amazing and she’s a tough woman.”

Svitolina will take on former world No 1 Naomi Osaka on Friday while Monfils plays Australia’s Jordan Thompson on Saturday.

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