Jessica Pegula’s Coach Saddened by Gael Monfils’ Early Retirement Following Elina Svitolina Split
Jessica Pegula's coach, Mark Knowles, has voiced his disappointment over the recent breakup of Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, as well as the cancellation of Monfils’ farewell at the Paris Masters. The tennis couple ended their five-year marriage this month, both releasing statements addressing the split.
Monfils Ends Career Earlier Than Expected
The French star, who once held the No. 6 ATP ranking, shortened his farewell season due to personal challenges stemming from the separation. Originally, Monfils planned to make his final appearance at the Paris Masters in front of his home crowd. Instead, his last competitive match was a second-round loss against Learner Tien at the US Open earlier this year.
Knowles, a former top doubles player and current coach to American WTA standout Pegula, shared his feelings on The Inside-In Tennis Podcast:
"Obviously super bummed out that our guy and everybody's favorite, Gael Monfils, won’t get his send-off in Bercy (Paris). Really unfortunate what’s happening there, without knowing the situation."
He added his respect for Monfils, who is beloved on the ATP Tour:
"I was fortunate enough to play on tour with Gael for a long time. I’ve been able to cover him doing broadcasting and seeing him every week. To me, he’s one of my favorite guys that I was ever around on tour, covering generation after generation, one of my all-time favorites."
Knowles finished by saying:
"Really bummed for him, but always thinking about him and just thankful I got to be around him, watch him play – probably the greatest showman we’ve ever had in our sport."
Elina Svitolina’s Upcoming Plans
Currently ranked No. 6 in the WTA singles standings, Elina Svitolina recently reached the quarterfinals in Wuhan before losing to eventual runner-up Sonay Kartal. She has qualified for the WTA Finals, where she is expected to compete despite the personal changes.
Svitolina has a notable history at the year-end event, having won it in 2018 after a tough comeback victory over Sloane Stephens. She nearly defended the title in 2019 but was defeated by former No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the final.
Public Reactions and Support
The split drew some negative reactions online, especially when Svitolina mentioned the Russia-Ukraine conflict as part of the reason behind their separation. Monfils later spoke out in support of Svitolina, defending her against criticism.
Many voices in the tennis world, including legends like Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker, have expressed sympathy and support for both players amid the backlash.
