Elina Svitolina requests fans to show "big support" for husband Gael Monfils against Ben Shelton at Australian Open; promises "all energy" 

Elina Svitolina expressed her excitement at watching her husband Gael Monfils lock horns with Ben Shelton for a place in the 2025 Australian Open quarterfinals. Svitolina's admission came after her dominant fourth-round win, which helped her reach the quarterfinals of the hardcourt Major for the first time since 2019.

Svitolina fired five aces and converted five out of nine break-point opportunities to register a 6-4, 6-1 victory in her fourth-round match against Veronika Kudermetova. In her post-match on-court interview, the former WTA World No. 3 was asked where she would be watching her husband Monfils' fourth-round clash against Shelton later in the same day. Svitolina answered:

"Well, hopefully courtside, but yeah, I mean, I have a little bit of time to do my recovery and then you know, will be all energy towards his match and it's going to be an epic one I'm sure."

Urging the Australian Open crowd to cheer for her husband Gael Monfils, Elina Svitolina hailed the 38-year-old's ongoing run at the hardcourt Major. Monfils has so far ousted two seeded players from the tournament - No. 30 seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round and more notably, fourth seed and World No. 4 Taylor Fritz in the third.

"So yeah, hopefully you guys can give him a big support. Playing the way he's playing right now is special and I feel like we are witnessing something really nice," Svitolina added.

Interestingly, after Monfils dispatched Fritz, Svitolina also eliminated the WTA No. 4 Jasmine Paolini. The Frenchman had endearingly joked after his win over the American how he had "warmed up the court" for his wife.

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"Elina Svitolina also plays World No. 4" - Gael Monfils ahead of wife's Australian Open 3R clash against Jasmine Paolini

Gael Monfils (left) and Elina Svitolina (right) (Source: Getty)

During his post-match interview following his four-set win over Taylor Fritz, Gael Monfils playfully mentioned his wife Elina Svitolina. At the time, the Ukrainian was gearing up to face Jasmine Paolini, who had finished runner-up at the 2024 French Open and Wimbledon Championships

"I think I warmed up the court for her. She plays also the World No. 4, so, I guess it's going to be tough for her and Elina, I hope she will search this one," Monfils said.

Gael Monfils, a former ATP No. 6, became the oldest men's tennis player to win an ATP Tour-level title earlier this season after clinching the ASB Classic title in Auckland.