Elina Svitolina and Gaël Monfils Triumph in Exhibition Doubles
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina and her husband, Gaël Monfils, emerged victorious in the doubles exhibition tournament known as "Gael and Friends," held on the courts of Roland Garros. This event was organized to honor the upcoming retirement of Gaël Monfils from professional tennis. In the final match, the duo defeated the pairing of Novak Djokovic and Maria Sakkari with a score of 10–6.
Path to the Final and Monfils' Future Plans
En route to the championship, Svitolina and Monfils overcame Sorana Cîrstea and Richard Gasquet, as well as Jannik Sinner and Diane Parry. At 39 years old, Monfils has received a wild card entry into the main draw of Roland Garros, where he will begin his campaign against Hugo Gaston. He has announced plans to conclude his professional career by the end of 2026, with this year's Roland Garros tournament running from May 24 to June 7, 2026.
A total of seven Ukrainian women have secured spots in the main draw of this clay-court Grand Slam: Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk, Dayana Yastremska, Yuliia Starodubtseva, Oleksandra Oliynykova, and Dariia Snihur. Anhelina Kalinina earned her place using a protected ranking. Six of the seven Ukrainians have already learned their first-round opponents, while Oliynykova's challenger will be determined through the qualifying rounds.
Here are the first-round matchups for Ukrainian players at Roland Garros:
- Elina Svitolina (Ukraine, 7) vs. Anna Bondar (Hungary)
- Marta Kostyuk (Ukraine, 15) vs. Oksana Selekhmetieva
- Dayana Yastremska (Ukraine) vs. Jasmine Paolini (Italy, 13)
- Yuliia Starodubtseva (Ukraine) vs. Anna Blinkova
- Oleksandra Oliynykova (Ukraine) vs. Qualifier winner
- Anhelina Kalinina (Ukraine, SR) vs. Diane Parry (France)
- Dariia Snihur (Ukraine) vs. Clara Tauson (Denmark, 21)
Beyond showcasing the skills of Svitolina and Monfils, this exhibition tournament highlighted a significant milestone: the impending retirement of Gaël Monfils, marking a key chapter in his athletic journey. Meanwhile, the presence of seven Ukrainian women in the Roland Garros main draw underscores the rising prominence of Ukrainian tennis on the global stage, a development that could further boost the sport's popularity back home.
As Svitolina and Monfils celebrate their exhibition victory, the spotlight also shines on the impressive performances of Ukrainian players at Roland Garros. With seven women qualifying for the main draw, including Svitolina herself, the upcoming matches promise to be thrilling. For a detailed look at the first-round matchups and the journey of these talented athletes, check out the full story highlighting the Ukrainian women's achievements.