Tennis star who walked away from the sport to become a lingerie model insists she ‘wanted to quit for years’ and clarifies moves to America – amid claims she left Italy over tax rows and unpaid rent

A tennis star who quit the sport to become a lingerie model has clarified her decision to move to America amid claims she ‘ran away’ after failing to pay six months of rent.

Camila Giorgi announced her retirement in May amid rumours that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) had been unable to get hold of her for two months.

At that time, speculation was rife over a reported move to the United States, with some suggesting she fled her native Italy in a bid to evade tax authorities.

The model, who has 730,000 followers on Instagram, was then accused of failing to pay rent and removing ‘half the furniture’ from a rented villa in Calenzano, near Florence, by her aggrieved former landlord.

However, now, Giorgi has reappeared on a television channel to explain her version of events regarding her alleged escape. 

The now-ex tennis star has over 730,000 followers on Instagram

Tennis star Camila Giorgi – who quit the sport to become a lingerie model – has clarified her decision to move to America amid claims she ‘ran away’ after failing to pay six months rent 

The 32-year-old quietly retired from tennis in May before making a public statement

The 32-year-old quietly retired from tennis in May before making a public statement  

Speaking on Canale 5’s Verissimo, she explained her decision to retire from tennis and embarking on the move to America.

She said: ‘Did I suddenly disappear? That’s the version they said. 

‘I didn’t disappear, I had to make an announcement in Paris about my withdrawal, then it came out on the anti-doping website that I had retired and the thing became public.

‘I lived a little in Italy and a little in the United States. We stayed in Miami for 3 years. I would like to stay there forever, but I often return to Italy, I just don’t like to talk about what I do and it seems like I’m hiding… Now I’m happy, I’m where I would like to be.’ 

After months of uncertainty over her location, her lawyer Edmondo Tomaselli also claimed she did not ‘run away’.

Mr Tomaselli told Mail Sport that Giorgi also denies the allegations made by her former landlord. 

The former world No 26 is said to have removed ‘half the furniture’ from the rented villa in Calenzano, near Florence, by her aggrieved former landlord. 

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. 

The model was accused of failing to pay rent and removing 'half the furniture' from a rented villa in Calenzano, near Florence

Giorgi had secretly quit tennis at the age of 32

The model was accused of failing to pay rent and removing ‘half the furniture’ from a rented villa in Calenzano, near Florence 

The owner of the villa claims to have spoken with Giorgi's father Serio (pictured in May 2022)

The owner of the villa claims to have spoken with Giorgi’s father Serio (pictured in May 2022)

‘Persian rugs, fine furniture, even an antique half-ton table. We are talking about damage between 50 and 100 thousand euros.’

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. 

Commenting on these allegations Giorgi has maintained: ‘We did not flee for tax reasons.

‘I never fled, I never spoke. We did not pay the rent and we took the furniture? The house had no furniture, we brought it ourselves’.

The 32-year-old, who last played in March’s Miami Open against world No 1 Iga Swiatek, officially announced her retirement back in May. 

Explaining the decision to do so, she said: ‘I wanted to quit for years, being a tennis player is a hard life. I put it off for a long time until, in May, one morning I decided to do it, I told my father. 

‘He was happy, he was always by my side. It’s not true that he’s a controlling father, he’s very understanding and we’ve always gotten along very well.’

This summer’s chaos was not the first time the model has felt the heat from authorities. 

The former world No 26 has also been caught up in controversy over her vaccination status

The former world No 26 has also been caught up in controversy over her vaccination status

The Italian insisted that she had 'wanted to quit for years' amid the 'hard life' of a tennis star

The Italian insisted that she had ‘wanted to quit for years’ amid the ‘hard life’ of a tennis star

Giorgi remains under investigation following accusations that she used a fake Covid vaccination certificate to get into the Australian Open in 2022, which she and her father angrily deny.

As per Bild, she faces a trial over this case with her lawyer saying she is set to ask the judge for a shortened trial.

The lawyer added that Giorgi denies the allegations levelled against her. 

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 32-year-old big hitter has cultivated a parallel career as a social media influencer

The 32-year-old big hitter has cultivated a parallel career as a social media influencer

‘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.’

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.

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