Elina Svitolina is already back home in the arms of her husband Gaël Monfils and daughter Skaï. The Ukrainian is fresh off a hard-earned WTA 1000 triumph at the 2026 Italian Open in Rome. She defeated Coco Gauff in a three-set final to claim her third title at the Foro Italico. This marked her 20th career WTA title and gave her huge confidence heading into Roland Garros.
This victory hits different for Svitolina. It’s a statement of her second act as a mother and athlete, coming eight years after her previous Rome wins in 2017 and 2018. At 31, she’s balancing elite tennis with family life in a way that feels both inspiring and deeply human. The win propels her back into strong contention ahead of Roland Garros, where her clay-court form makes her a legitimate dark horse.
Svitolina’s Path to Glory in Rome
Svitolina navigated one of the toughest draws imaginable. She took down world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals and top seed Iga Swiatek in the semifinals before outlasting Gauff 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-2 in a nearly three-hour final. That kind of run on clay demands not just skill but mental steel, especially after an early exit in Madrid that forced her to reset.
Her path to 20 titles now includes five WTA 1000 crowns and seven on clay. She’s the first Ukrainian to reach that milestone, joining an exclusive group of mothers who’ve won major titles after childbirth, like Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka. The emotion was clear as she lifted the trophy, a mix of exhaustion and pure satisfaction after battling through nerves in big moments.
Family First: Back Home with Monfils and Skaï
Elina Svitolina is already back home with her husband Gael Monfils and daughter Skaï after winning Rome.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 18, 2026
🥹 pic.twitter.com/CpdAp84zAp
Right after the win, Svitolina headed straight home. She shared a sweet photo of her daughter Skaï playing padel with Monfils on her Instagram account. It’s the kind of moment that reminds everyone why she fights so hard on court—those precious days of being “just a mom.”
Monfils has been vocal in his support, posting a heartfelt tribute: “What a woman. An incredible mom to Skaï, an exceptional athlete, a soul like no other. I’m so proud of you, my love.” The family dynamic shines through in these glimpses—walks, mini tennis sessions, and now padel. Skaï, growing up fast, is already showing a love for sports, often grabbing her parents’ bigger rackets instead of her own mini ones.
Svitolina’s Words on Balance and Ambition
In her post-match reflections, Svitolina spoke candidly about the grind. “Now I have a couple of days to rest. I’m going home tomorrow, and I’m going to have a couple of days to completely forget about tennis and just be a mom and enjoy my time with my family,” she told the WTA website. She emphasized consistency for staying at the top: “You have many tournaments, and you need to be at your best at the big tournaments… That’s why I’m proud of the effort, the performance, and the form I picked up.”
She also touched on Ukrainian tennis pride, noting seven players in the Top 100 as huge motivation for the next generation. “It’s a great example that when you work hard and dream big, you can make it happen.” At a time when her country faces ongoing challenges, these successes carry extra weight.
The Comeback Story That Keeps Delivering
Svitolina’s journey hasn’t been linear. After giving birth in 2022, she stepped away, underwent foot surgery, and returned unranked. Step by step, belief rebuilt her ranking to inside the Top 10. This Rome title feels like validation of that patience. She’s now 8-0 in certain clay stretches this season, proving age and motherhood haven’t dimmed her fire.
Fans and fellow players have reacted with genuine warmth. The tennis world loves a story like this. With a short reset complete, Svitolina turns her focus to Paris. She arrives with momentum, confidence, and that clay-court swagger. “I had eight good days of training and a physical block, which was a nice buildup,” she noted. Roland Garros promises to be electric, with Svitolina, defending champion Gauff, Swiatek, and others all in the mix.
For Svitolina, it’s about more than just results. It’s showing her daughter what dedication looks like while they soak up family time. In a sport that demands everything, she’s proving you can have both and win big doing it. The French Open draw will be out soon, but one thing’s clear: don’t count this tennis mom out.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Elina Svitolina?
Elina Svitolina is a Ukrainian professional tennis player who currently finds herself in the top 10 of the WTA rankings. She turned pro in 2008.
2. Who is Elina Svitolina’s husband?
Elina Svitolina’s husband is Gael Monfils. The Frenchman, like Svitolina today, was a former top-10 player and reached his peak by reaching the Roland Garros semifinals in 2008.
3. What is Elina Svitolina’s daughter’s name?
Svitolina and Monfils have a daughter, Skai. They announced their pregnancy on 15th May, 2022, and Skai was born a year later.
4. How is Elina Svitolina’s career inspirational?
Svitolina returned to the tour as a mother and remains competitive, maintaining her status as a top-10 tennis player. These heights were previously achieved by Kim Clijsters, who added 3 Grand Slam titles after returning as a mother in 2009. Now, Naomi Osaka, Belinda Bencic, and Serena Williams are trying to achieve similar heights.
5. What is the biggest highlight of Elina Svitolina’s 2026 season?
Svitolina’s biggest highlight so far is winning the Italian Open. She beat Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff en route to the title. She also reached the Australian Open semifinals earlier this year, losing to Aryna Sabalenka. It is also an emotional season for her as she will see the farewell of Gael Monfils as a professional tennis player. The Frenchman will retire at the end of the 2026 season.
Conclusion
Svitolina has enjoyed many highlights with her daughter, Skai, so far. However, the way she manages to balance both her personal and professional life is inspirational. With Monfils retiring at the end of the season, it is likely that she will be able to focus more on her professional side.
