A Grand Slam Dream for Two: Svitolina and Monfils Reach US Open Semifinals

Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils have spent years competing on tennis’ biggest stages, but the married couple are now enjoying an unexpected run together at the US Open mixed doubles event.

Svitolina and Monfils became the first team to reach the semifinals after edging Katerina Siniakova and Henry Patten 5-4 (6), 4-5 (3), 10-8 in a tense quarterfinal on Tuesday, August 26. Their victory was particularly impressive as Siniakova and Patten are the world No. 1 players in women's and men's doubles respectively.

For Monfils, the tournament carries extra significance. The French star is playing his final Grand Slam tournament before retirement, making the couple’s unexpected success even more special.

After the victory, Monfils celebrated with his wife on court and summed up the partnership with a smile: “Happy wife, happy life.”

The pair will face Belinda Bencic and Flavio Cobolli in the semifinals, with $1 million awaiting the eventual champions. In the other semifinal, Mirra Andreeva and Andrey Rublev will take on Karolina Muchova and Jakub Mensik.

Remarkably, Svitolina and Monfils entered the tournament with almost no expectations. Unsure initially whether they would even make the field, the couple worked on their doubles tactics only a day before their opening match.

Svitolina said they regularly practise together at home but had done little specific preparation for the competition. She had simply hoped they could win a few games.

Instead, they defeated Alex Eala and Felix Auger-Aliassime in the opening round before overcoming one of the strongest doubles teams in the draw.

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated pairing of Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz was eliminated in the second round by Bencic and Cobolli after winning their opener.

For Svitolina and Monfils, however, an unlikely partnership has turned into one of the most heartwarming stories of the US Open, leaving the tennis couple just one win away from the final.