Tax evasion, falsified vaccination records, flight – tennis star Camila Giorgi has been in the headlines a lot recently. Now the Italian has come forward and taken a stand.
In the past few months, she has been one of the most frequently featured tennis players in the headlines – even though she hasn’t even played. We are talking about Camila Giorgi. The Italian remained silent for months and only gave isolated signs of life.
Now the 32-year-old has spoken in detail on the TV show Verissimo on the Italian channel Canale 5, addressing several explosive issues at once: tax evasion, falsified vaccination records, the end of her career and fleeing her homeland.
In the spring, Giorgi had quit tennis and gone into hiding. What makes the story even more juicy is that at the same time, the Italian tax authorities announced that the family had submitted incomplete tax returns, and in some cases had not submitted any tax returns at all. The athlete alone is said to owe her home country 446,000 euros.
“I never run away! This was no escape. When I read that, I had to laugh. We didn’t leave Italy because of tax evasion. Maybe the problem is that I don’t talk much,” she said.
Camila Giorgi denies fleeing
Rather, her lack of interest in tennis is said to have been the reason for her departure from Italy.
“I’ve wanted to quit for years. I’d always take a break for a few months at a time, then go back on court. But now I couldn’t take the physical and mental stress of traveling and the pressure anymore,” Giorgi said. ”I’d already been living in Miami for three years, and now I’ve moved there permanently. My parents are in California.”
But how can it be that the tax authorities make such statements? “My lawyer caused me a lot of problems that I wasn’t aware of until all these suspicions arose. My family was unaware of this situation. Other people advised me, it was their job,” said the former world no. 26.
Defending words about her father
However, Giorgi vehemently denies that her father Sergio, who acted as her coach, played a role in the matter. “My father didn’t manage the business side of things. I don’t like the word victim, but that’s what it is this time. He’s a victim too. We’ve replaced our staff and now everything will be fine.”
On the contrary, Papa Giorgi has always been there for his daughter. “My dad, the boss? No, that’s not true. He’s perhaps the most open person I know. You have the wrong idea about my father. He is very understanding,” she replied.
But father Giorgi is not quite so unsung. He has caused various scandals in Giorgi’s career. Among other things, he has insulted referees and smoked during matches.
Fake vaccination certificate?
But that’s not all. Her former landlord is also making accusations against the athlete. He claims that she cleared out the house she once rented, causing damage estimated at 100,000 euros.
“We didn’t steal the furniture, the house didn’t have any furniture. We always paid the rent, too. This accusation is ridiculous, it’s shocking,” Giorgi said.
And the topic of a falsified vaccination certificate also came up in the program. The athlete was once accused of having one in relation to the Corona vaccination.
“The hearing on this will take place in November. I am very surprised by the doctor because I trusted her. I got the shot and she made the entry in the vaccination record. I later found out that it was not a vaccine for coronavirus. So I got the real vaccine after that,” said the 32-year-old.
No return to tennis
In the United States, the former tennis player is now with a man whose identity she is keeping secret. But it is clear that she will not be returning to the court.
“When I’m done with something, I don’t come back. I still play for fun, but I couldn’t stand packing my bags every week and always seeing the same people.”
Incidentally, it’s different for her native Italy: “I will always come to Italy, because Italy is my home. I’m Italian. I will return to live here one day. I love Italy, it’s the most beautiful country in the world. I was born here and this is my home.”