Jessica Pegula's Coach Disappointed as Gael Monfils Hastens Retirement After Split from Elina Svitolina
Mark Knowles, coach of American tennis star Jessica Pegula, shared his disappointment over the recent separation of Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina. The French player’s early retirement plans were also cut short following their split after five years of marriage.
Monfils was expected to have a farewell appearance at the Paris Masters, but he ended his professional career unexpectedly after a second-round defeat at the US Open against Learner Tien. Both athletes released statements about ending their marriage, with Svitolina facing criticism online for mentioning the Russia-Ukraine war as a factor in their separation. Monfils later issued a statement defending his former wife’s position.
Knowles Expresses Regret Over Monfils’ Early Farewell
The 55-year-old Bahamian doubles expert, who now coaches Pegula, spoke 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."
Knowles praised Monfils’ impact on the tour, noting their long history together:
"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."
He added a personal note:
"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."
Svitolina Aims for WTA Finals Despite Personal Challenges
Elina Svitolina, currently ranked No. 6 in WTA singles, recently reached the quarterfinals in Wuhan before losing to Sonay Kartal, who went on to finish runner-up. She has qualified for the year-end championships, where she is expected to compete.
Svitolina is a former WTA Finals champion, having won the title in 2018 with a comeback victory over Sloane Stephens. She nearly defended her trophy the following year but was defeated by Ashleigh Barty in the final.
Support Amid Backlash
Following the split and public scrutiny, both Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina have received support from tennis legends like Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker, who condemned the negativity directed at the couple.
- Event: Gael Monfils retires early after separation
- Last Match: US Open, 2nd round loss to Learner Tien
- Planned Farewell: Paris Masters appearance canceled
- Monfils Age: 40
- Monfils Peak Ranking: World No. 6
- Svitolina Current Ranking: World No. 6 (WTA)
- Svitolina Recent Performance: Wuhan quarterfinalist
- Svitolina WTA Finals Titles: 2018 Champion
