In addition to being a star tennis player, Gaël Monfils is also a devoted father to his daughter, Skaï. The Frenchman, who will play the final season of his career in 2026, became a “superhero” for Skaï and wrote an emotional message that drew a heartwarming reaction from his wife, Elina Svitolina.
Monfils and Svitolina began dating in 2018 and got engaged in April 2021. Just three months later, in July 2021, they were married. On Oct. 15, 2022, the couple announced the birth of their first child, a daughter named Skaï.
Elina Svitolina Reacts to Gaël Monfils’ Emotional Message Featuring Their Daughter Skaï
Monfils, who is set to start his 2026 season in New Zealand next month, recently took to social media to share a picture of himself wearing a mask of the superhero Black Panther. In the photo, he is posing alongside his daughter, who is dressed in a Spiderman costume.
In his post, the former world No. 6 shared a heartfelt message about how, before leaving home for the final season of his career, Skaï asked him if they could don their masks and become “superheroes.”
“Final season. Today, I’m heading out for what will be my last season of tennis. A huge chapter of my life. Before I left, my daughter said to me: “Daddy, what if we put on our masks and become superheroes?” She with her Spider-Man mask, Me with my Black Panther mask,” Monfils captioned his Instagram post.
Monfils mentioned that Skaï wanted to be a superhero because, for the three-year-old, he will always be a “hero.” He stated that he will begin 2026 by wearing the “invisible mask” on his heart with “pride,” “gratitude,” and “love.”
“Because in her eyes, I will always be a hero. And because through her eyes, we can face the world together. I leave with that invisible mask on my heart. With pride. With gratitude. With love. One last season. For her. For me. For everything tennis has given me. 🖤 🙅🏾♂️,” he added.
The adorable picture of Monfils posing alongside Skaï with their superhero masks and the accompanying emotional message drew a reaction from Svitolina, who commented with two emojis, expressing her love for them.
“❤️ 🥹,” Svitolina commented.
The last time Monfils and Svitolina were on a court was at the 2025 World Tennis League in India. The Ukrainian played for Team Hawks, while Monfils was a member of Team Eagles, which finished as the runner-up.
Where Will Svitolina and Monfils Compete Next?
Looking ahead, Svitolina and Monfils are set to kick off their 2026 tennis season at the ASB Classic. The women’s event will take place from Jan. 5 to Jan. 11, 2026, while the men’s event is scheduled from Jan. 12 to Jan. 17, 2026. The matches of the tournament will take place on the outdoor hard courts at the Manuka Doctor Arena in Auckland, New Zealand.
In addition to Monfils, players like Ben Shelton, Casper Ruud, Jakub Menšík, Cameron Norrie, Lorenzo Sonego, Luciano Darderi, Alex Michelsen, and Sebastián Báez will also compete in the ATP 250 tournament.
Next year, the Frenchman will enter the ASB Classic as the defending champion, having won the title in 2025 by defeating Zizou Bergs with a score of 6-3, 6-4 in the final, claiming his 13th ATP Tour title.
On the women’s side, alongside Svitolina, the 2026 ASB Classic will feature players such as Emma Navarro, Magda Linette, Wang Xinyu, Katie Boulter, Donna Vekić, Iva Jovic, Alexandra Eala, Janice Tjen, and Peyton Stearns, among others.
The Ukrainian last participated in the WTA 250 hard-court tournament in 2024, where she defeated Caroline Wozniacki, Emma Raducanu, Marie Bouzkova, and Wang Xiyu, reaching the final. In the championship match, she finished as the runner-up after losing to Coco Gauff.