FOR Gael Monfils and Elina Svitlona, love certainly means more than nothing.
They are desperate to get away from love as quickly as possible when they're on the tennis court.
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Off it, though, the romantic tennis stars are the ultimate sporting power couple - and even got to play together at the US Open.
Now there will surely be high hopes for the duo's baby daughter Skai, born in October 2022.
Monfils, 36, and Svitolina, 28, started dating in 2019 and got engaged two years later after a brief separation to focus on tennis.
And they tied the knot in July 2021 - with the French entertainer rocking a sensational purple suit.
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Svitolina said: "Tennis-wise nothing really changed. We are still practising sometimes together. Sometimes we try not to talk too much about tennis.
"We had a very special and amazing wedding in a way that all our families were together. It's very rare for a tennis player to see their whole family together because my parents are in Ukraine. His parents are in France, Guadeloupe, Martinique. Everyone is everywhere.
"For me it's important to have someone who understands what I'm going through. I will have for sure some bad situations where I'm not feeling well off the court, you are struggling with motivation, which is normal for athletes. You are travelling so much. You're away from home, away from your family.
"For me to have Gael next to me it's actually very lucky in our situation that we are both at the top of our sport so we are travelling pretty much to the same tournaments.
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"That's really lucky in a way that we found love for each other and we do the same thing. We play tennis. We have the same goals. We're just helping each other in the way that we can help."
Now despite their marriage and exciting venture into parenthood, Mr and Mrs Monfils still want to get the most out of their tennis careers.
Both players have had lengthy lay-offs recently - with injuries and pregnancy - but are showing there is still plenty left in the tank.
Former world No6 and two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist Monfils is way down the rankings at 162nd and has been a pro for 19 years - but has enjoyed a career renaissance of late by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas, Cameron Norrie and Alex De Minaur.
Svitolina, meanwhile, caused shockwaves when the Ukrainian wildcard reached the Wimbledon semi-finals this year.
Her emotional run, amid the backdrop of the war back home and return from giving birth, captured the heart of the All England Club and millions watching on TV.
And it even saw the Olympic bronze medalist offered free Harry Styles tickets from the pop superstar - after her epic effort at Wimbledon forced her to miss his concert.
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Now with both players in the singles draw at the US Open - guaranteeing at the minimum a cool $163,000 for the household - they made their preparations at Flushing Meadows by teaming up to play mixed doubles.
The Monfils-Svitolina pairing took on American duo Jennifer Brady and Christopher Eubanks in a tie-break as part of the fun Stars of the Open warm-up charity event for Ukraine with the players mic'd up.
However, the beaming married couple went down 11-9 - but even defeat could not wipe the smile off their faces.
Both have spoken publicly about married life on the tour - and are embracing it for now, appreciating each other's support before veteran Monfils surely retires soon.
Monfils, who has embraced his doting dad duties, said: "Elina's always very caring.
"She knows that I need to feel good most of the time to deliver. She knows me quite well and she always has a good word when something comes up maybe outside of tennis or wherever to bring me back on my goal.
"At the end of the day I mostly say to people, you know, tennis, it's something but it's not our life. Our life is, it's way different.
"We have so much more in common outside of tennis and that is the most important because I guess there's so many people who share the tennis passion and I hope that's not why she married me and that's not why I married her. So it's great, but it's not the main thing."
He added earlier in August at the Washington Open: "I feel Elina will play much longer than me.
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"It might be one of my last tournaments in the states. Maybe next year. We don’t know. But soon.
"But I may come back to support Elina with the baby. So you’ll see me around."
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