Elina Svitolina says she "will ask" husband Gael Monfils to win French Open 2023 as couple gear up for tennis comeback
Elina Svitolina has jovially promised her fans that she will ask her husband Gael Monfils to win the French Open this year as the couple are all set to make a comeback on tour after a major break.
Svitolina, one of the most successful Ukrainians on tour, has not played any competitive matches in the past 11 months. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and motherhood have been prominent reasons that have sidelined the former World No. 3 for such a long period.
Meanwhile, Monfils has been out of action since August 2022 owing to a foot injury. While the Frenchman's return was possible at the 2023 Australian Open, he withdrew from the tournament to become eligible for a protected ranking.
With recovery going on in full swing for the couple, Svitolina interacted with her fans on social media in a Q&A session she hosted on Monday. One fan asked whether the Ukrainian could ask Monfils to win the upcoming Grand Slam on clay in front of his home crowd on his comeback, to which Svitolina whimsically wrote:
"Ok, I will ask him," with a grinning emoji on her Instagram stories.
Gael Monfils failed to participate in the French Open last year, having been subjected to heel surgery during that time. He last played in the tournament in 2021, where he endured a second-round exit upon losing against Mikael Ymer.
Monfils' best finish at the French Open was in 2008, where he reached the semifinals before losing against Roger Federer. With major setbacks of late and a long break from the tour, it is highly unlikely that the 36-year-old will win the title this time around. However, the experienced Frenchman could well make a surprisingly deep run in the tournament.
Gael Monfils to make his return on tour at the Indian Wells
Meanwhile, Gael Monfils is set to make his return on tour at the upcoming Indian Wells Masters after what has been a prolonged break of six months.
Monfils will face off against Jordan Thompson in the first round on Tuesday. It will be the duo's first meeting on tour. The former World No. 6 will encounter a real test in his first match on return as his opponent is on a five-match winning streak.
In the 2022 Indian Wells Masters, Monfils lost against Carlos Alcaraz in the Round-of-16 after an impressive second-round win against top seed Daniil Medvedev.