Camila Giorgi has long been a figure of unpredictability, both on and off the tennis court. The 33-year-old Italian, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 26 in 2018 before retiring last May, has always charted her own path.
In 2021, for example, Giorgi’s season started with a series of lingerie photos posted to her Instagram. This move sparked discussions within tennis circles. Was she losing focus on tennis? Was she shifting towards a modeling career?
Her response came later that year when she defeated Karolina Pliskova, a former world No. 1 and Wimbledon finalist, to win the Canadian Open. It was the biggest victory of her career, one that seemed to signal a turning point. Giorgi, known for her aggressive playing style, showed a more controlled approach in that match. Yet, despite the career milestone, she continued to express her love for fashion over tennis.
“I like sports a lot, but I like fashion more,” she said in an interview. Fashion, she explained, was an obsession passed down from her mother, Claudia Fullone, a designer.
Despite her success on the court, Giorgi’s social media posts, including one where she made desserts in a red satin dress, led many to question how she viewed herself—was she an athlete or a fashionista? It was a contradiction that defined her both on and off the court.
More recently, Giorgi appeared at the Argentina Open, a men’s event in Buenos Aires, taking on a reporting role. She was seen interviewing Argentinian players Sebastian Baez and Guido Pella, which caught many by surprise. Since retiring last year, Giorgi has kept a low profile, making few public appearances outside her social media posts.
Her retirement, which came after rumors of tax evasion and unpaid rent, raised eyebrows. Giorgi had been renting a villa in Calenzano, Italy, where the landlord accused her of leaving the property without paying six months’ rent and taking valuable furniture. Giorgi denied the claims on an Italian TV show, calling them “laughable.”
She also denied accusations that she had fled to the U.S., explaining that her move to America was permanent and not an escape. She attributed tax issues to a lawyer she no longer worked with, stating the problems were caused by “outside people” who managed her affairs.
Though Giorgi’s exit from tennis was abrupt, she defended her decision, stating that she was simply exhausted and unable to travel anymore. She clarified that the announcement of her retirement was not intended to come in the way it did, after her name appeared on a list of retired players.
For those familiar with her career, Giorgi’s controversial departure was just another chapter in a history of unpredictable moves. From early sponsorship disputes to controversies over her outfits and even claims of using a fake Covid certificate, Giorgi’s career was always filled with surprises. Her bold, high-risk playing style, which earned her a quarter-final finish at Wimbledon in 2018, never led to a major title, but it kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Now, as Giorgi transitions from tennis to a career in media, she will always be remembered for that emotional victory in Toronto, where she triumphed over Pliskova. After the win, she shared a rare moment of vulnerability, turning to her father and acknowledging the hard work that had led to her success.
“I am very happy to have this gift,” she said. “When you dedicate all your work, I think one day beautiful things come.”
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