PARIS (AP) — Elina Svitolina announced Monday the end of her marriage with fellow tennis player Gael Monfils.
The sixth-ranked Ukrainian said in an Instagram post it is “the most difficult thing I have ever had to share.”
Svitolina spoke about the tough emotional impact the war in her country had on her well-being, and how Monfils supported her to cope with the struggle when she took a break from tennis to recover.
“But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you,” she wrote. “With time, I came to understand that I need to find my way back to myself and that I cannot do that within our marriage.”
Monfils and Svitolina have a daughter together.
“Together, we built a beautiful life, and we were given the most precious gift of all, our daughter, Skai,” Svitolina said. “Skai will always come first. Our marriage is ending, but our family is not. We will always be her parents, side by side, at every step of her life.”
The end of their marriage might have played a role in Monfils' decision to end his career a little earlier than what was expected.
The 40-year-old Monfils, who had planned to retire at the end of the season, is being listed by the sport’s drug-testing organization among the players who have declared themselves retired, with his career officially over from Oct. 5.
The former No. 6-ranked player was widely expected to end his career in front of his home fans at the Paris Masters from Oct. 31.
See AP’s full tennis coverage here
FILE - Gael Monfils, of France, acknowledges fans after losing to Learner Tien, of the United States, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)
Elina Svitolina, of Ukraine, leaves the court after losing against Zheng Qinwen, of China, during the quarterfinals of the women's singles match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
ABU SNIN, Israel (AP) — Israeli police said they arrested 10 people on Monday in connection with a wave of settler violence that included attacks on a foreign journalist and European diplomats in the occupied West Bank over the weekend.
Israel had come under heavy international criticism for the attacks. Israeli police did not identify the suspects or specify their roles in the attacks, which came during a spike in settler violence during the annual Palestinian olive harvest season.
On Friday, Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was beaten by a crowd of young male settlers, leaving her with several broken ribs and vertebrae in the village of Abu Falah. She also underwent surgery on a finger that was nearly severed and is recovering from what appeared to be stab wounds to her lower body, which required stitches.
A day later, masked settlers attacked a group of European diplomats and others visiting the Christian village of Taybeh.
Settler violence has surged in recent years, and rights groups say that attackers are rarely arrested or punished for attacks on Palestinians.
From her hospital bed Sunday, Levine said she was “shocked and insulted” that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had cast doubt on the attack, which was witnessed by a crowd of people, by calling it “alleged.”
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee condemned the attack as a “despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards” and said they should spend years in prison. Israel's president and several opposition politicians also spoke out against the attack.
The attack on diplomats targeted Belgium's consul general, French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives.
“Impunity for violent settlers must end,” Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said afterward.
Israeli police said they have been collecting evidence and witness statements since the weekend attacks. The suspects were transferred for questioning. They said the Shin Bet internal security agency, the paramilitary border police force and the Israeli military had all participated in the investigation.
Police said Monday’s operation also targeted people suspected of violating military orders declaring a closed military zone and offenses involving illegal construction. They said they seized several vehicles and items linking suspects to alleged offenses.
Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine receives treatment at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, after being injured in an attack by Israeli settlers while covering clashes that erupted during the Palestinian olive harvest in the West Bank village of Abu Falah on Friday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
