The recently retired tennis star who reportedly quit to pursue modelling and fashion design has been accused of failing to pay six months rent and stealing valuable furniture from the Florentine villa she was living in until three months ago.
Camila Giorgi quietly announced her retirement from tennis at the start of the month amid rumours that the WTA had been unable to get hold of her for two months prior.
The 32-year-old, who last played in March’s Miami Open against world No 1 Iga Swiatek, officially announced her retirement last week.
But before her public statement, is was reported that Giorgi had fled to the United States from her native Italy in a bid to evade the Italian tax authorities.
The former world No 26 is now said to have removed ‘half the furniture’ from the rented villa in Calenzano, near Florence, by her aggrieved former landlord.
A tennis star who reportedly quit the sport for a career in lingerie modelling has been accused of failing to pay rent and stealing furniture
Camila Giorgi had been balancing her career with her own fashion company called Giomila
The Italian was living north of the city of Florence (pictured above) until three months ago
As per La Repubblica, via Corriere della Serra, this included a number of expensive items including rugs and antique tables.
Not only did they leave without saying anything with six months of unpaid rent,’ the villa’s owner told the Italian outlet, ‘but they made half of our furniture disappear.
‘Persian rugs, fine furniture, even an antique half-ton table. We are talking about damage between 50 and 100 thousand euros.’
The owner alleges that they were in discussion with Giorgi’s father Sergio, adding that he had treated their concerns ‘contemptuously’.
‘I wrote to him that they must at least give us back our things, he responded in a contemptuous way saying that they were objects of little value,’ the owner added.
‘A hateful behavior, for those like me who have suffered economic but also emotional damage.
‘I can’t know how much is true or how much Camila owes the State , but I know what he owes us.
‘Those objects are part of my mother’s life and mine: I want them back, at least this much, given that we have lost hope due to the thousands and thousands of euros in back rent.’
Neighbours are reported to have seen moving vans at the property and alerted the owner, who arrived at the villa to find that the house had been almost ransacked.
‘When I arrived there was no one left and the house was half empty,’ they continued. ‘In the garden, however, there were other pieces of furniture and carpets piled on top of each other.
The owner of the villa claims to have spoken with Giorgi’s father Serio (pictured in May 2022)
Reports have suggested that the former Wimbledon quarter-finalist and her family have issues regarding taxes
The former world No 26 has also been caught up in controversy over her vaccination status
‘They had probably already filled the trucks and didn’t know where to put them anymore.’
Giorgi has previously come under fire after facing accusations that she used a fake Covid vaccination certificate to get into the Australian Open in 2022, which she and her father angrily denied.
It is reported however that the star is set to appear before an investigating judge in Vicenza on July 16 for the first preliminary hearing of the investigation into the accusations.
The Vicenza Prosecutor’s Office have reportedly requested the indictment of Giorgi, as well as 20 other suspects including Italian singer Madame and doctor Erich Volker Goepel.
It came after Italian doctor Daniela Grillone, who had been under investigation by authorities for allegedly delivering fake Covid-19 vaccinations to patients, alleged that Giorgi never received the jab despite her featuring in the second round.
At the time she said: ‘I did everything what they ask, the Australian government. Each year we are fine with that. Of course. I did all vaccination, yes.’
Giorgi said she received one vaccination with Grillone and completed the rest of her requirements with other medical practitioners.
‘The doctor has been investigate (sic), and she had troubles in this year with the law a few times,’ Giorgi said.
‘I just did all my vaccination in different places. So the trouble is hers. Not me. So with that, I’m very calm.’
Announcing her retirement on Instagram on Tuesday, Giorgi wrote of her gratitude for the ‘love and support’ she had received from fans.
Giorgi quietly retired from tennis at the start of the month before making a public statement last week
The 32-year-old big hitter has cultivated a parallel career as a social media influencer
Referencing mounting speculation about motivations for retirement, she added: ‘There have been many inaccurate rumours about my future plans, so I hope to provide more information about the interesting opportunities I will have in the future.’
Giorgi’s last permanent post on Instagram was shared from Miami, eight weeks ago.
Giorgi had won four titles on the WTA circuit and reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2018 – achieving a career-high world ranking of 26 that year.
She developed a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the women’s game, but also gained attention for her modelling career off the court and presence as a social media star.
