Gael Monfils sends emotional message to daughter Skai, remembers Elina Svitolina despite separation in Paris Masters farewell
Gael Monfils turned his Paris Masters farewell into an emotional message for his four-year-old daughter Skai on Tuesday night, dedicating his final lap of the Plenitude Arena to her and to the date that still binds their family.
Monfils’ retirement had been formal since October 5, when the ITIA’s retired list ended any hope of the farewell appearances he had planned in Lyon and Paris. Monfils confirmed that his split from Elina Svitolina had prompted the decision. However, the Paris Masters organizers talked the 40-year-old into appearing for a farewell ceremony in front of his home crowd.
The Frenchman’s father, Rufin, watched from the stands while his mother stayed home with Skai, but the four-year-old still shaped the most personal part of the speech. Monfils playfully revealed that she had demanded the airtime and opened up about teaching her the importance of kindness.
My little girl, Skai, wanted me to talk about her. She told me, ‘Daddy, you don’t talk about me enough!’ And she’s only four years old! So, Skai, if you’re watching this, here I am, talking about you. Maybe you’ll see this later on,” Monfils said (translated from French).
“She asked me why people kept coming up to say hello to me, and I explained that it’s because Daddy is very kind, and that she should be kind, too. She replied that she would be very kind as well. Then, she told me she wanted to be a champion,” he continued.
Monfils detailed a touching exchange he had with his daughter, during which she expressed her desire to become a tennis champion.
“I asked her what she wanted to be a champion of, and she said, ‘Everything!’ I told her she’d have to choose, and the first thing she blurted out was, ‘I want to be a champion at talking!’ Then she reconsidered and said she’d like to be a tennis champion, so she’ll surely have the right aptitude for that,” Gael Monfils added.
The 40-year-old also highlighted the significance of the date of his farewell, revealing what it meant to him and Elina Svitolina despite their separation. Gael Monfils concluded his message with a heartwarming wish for their daughter, expressing his hope to see her compete in Paris in the future.
“Skai, I dedicate this farewell to you. It took place in Paris, on November 3, 2026. As a side note, today marks exactly eight years since I first got together with your mom [Elina Svitolina], so it’s a very symbolic date for our family,” he said.
