Jessica Pegula’s Coach Disappointed as Gael Monfils Ends Career Early Following Elina Svitolina Split

Jessica Pegula's coach, Mark Knowles, voiced his sadness over the recent separation of Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina, as well as the cancellation of Monfils’ planned farewell at the Paris Masters. The couple ended their five-year marriage earlier this month, each releasing statements about their split.

Svitolina faced some criticism online after mentioning the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a factor in their separation. Monfils later defended her in a public statement. The French tennis star then decided to cut short his farewell season amid these personal challenges.

Monfils, who reached World No. 6 in his career, had intended to say goodbye to fans at the Paris Masters but chose to end his competitive career following a second-round loss to Learner Tien at the US Open.

Knowles Shares His Thoughts on Monfils' Retirement

The 55-year-old former ATP doubles specialist, now coaching American WTA player Jessica 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."

Knowles also expressed admiration for Monfils, highlighting the Frenchman’s popularity and personality on tour:

"I was fortunate enough to play on tour with Gael for a long time. I’ve been able to cover him in broadcasting and see him every week. To me, he’s one of my favorite guys I was ever around on tour, covering generation after generation, one of my all-time favorites."

He concluded with respect for Monfils’ unique flair:

"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 Poised for WTA Finals Despite Personal Turmoil

Meanwhile, Elina Svitolina, currently ranked No. 6 in WTA singles, recently reached the quarterfinals in Wuhan before losing to Sonay Kartal, who went on to be the runner-up.

Svitolina has qualified for the year-end WTA Finals and is expected to participate. She previously won the prestigious tournament in 2018 after a hard-fought comeback win against Sloane Stephens. The following year, she nearly defended her title but fell short in the final against former No. 1 Ashleigh Barty.

Additional Reactions

• Martina Navratilova and Boris Becker have publicly supported both Monfils and Svitolina amid the backlash surrounding their breakup.
• Monfils criticized the harsh treatment Svitolina received online after the announcement of their separation.

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