Tennis star who secretly quit sports to become a lingerie model breaks her silence and says she is NOT ‘running away’ – despite leaving Italy amid tax disputes, unpaid rent and Covid vaccine fraud

A tennis star who disappeared without a trace after sensationally giving up the sport to become a “lingerie model” did not “run away”, her lawyer has said.

Camila Giorgi announced her retirement in May after rumors circulated that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) had not been able to reach her for two months.

At the time, there was much speculation about a possible move to the United States, with some claiming she had fled her native Italy to avoid taxation.

The model, who has 730,000 followers on Instagram, was subsequently accused by her former landlord of not paying rent and taking “half the furniture” from a rented villa in Calenzano, near Florence.

After months of uncertainty about her whereabouts, Giorgi appears to finally be back in Italy. Her lawyer Edmondo Tomaselli claims she has not ‘run away’ at all. Image defeated.

Camila Giorgi, who disappeared after sensationally quitting tennis to become a ‘lingerie model’, did not ‘run away’, her lawyer says

She announced her retirement in May amid rumors that the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) had been unable to reach her two months earlier.

Two weeks ago, she was snapped on a Manhattan rooftop during a trip that coincided with the US Open in New York City

He said: ‘Camila Giorgi is in Rome. She has been away for professional reasons for the last few months.

In short, she didn’t run away at all, as some claim.

‘It’s all just talk, there’s no desire not to be found, only personal connections.

‘Her fans always followed her through her Instagram page, she was never unreachable.’

According to the German publication, her lawyer denies the accusations against her.

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

Fans of the 32-year-old have been receiving a steady stream of photos of Giorgi posing in a variety of outfits.

Two weeks ago, she was photographed on a Manhattan rooftop during a trip that coincided with the US Open in New York City.

Giorgi pictured with partner David Holiner in New York City during the US Open

After months of uncertainty about her whereabouts, Giorgi appears to finally be back in Italy

The Italian lived north of the city of Florence (pictured above) until seven months ago

Earlier this summer, a series of posts from mid-July to early August saw the former world number 26 posted in Dallas, Texas.

Before that, Giorgi had taken an 11-month break from the social media platform, with her last post being on August 22, 2023.

During this time, the former Wimbledon quarter-finalist endured a tumultuous period that saw her abruptly retire from the sport to focus on modelling and fashion design, before becoming the victim of a laundry list of allegations.

Her apparent disappearance from Italy led many to suggest she was fleeing authorities over a tax issue. Others claimed she was running from a landlord who said she had stolen tens of thousands of euros worth of furniture.

According to Italian outlet center La Repubblica, via Corriere della Serra, this included a number of expensive items, including carpets 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 also made half of our furniture disappear.

‘Persian carpets, beautiful furniture, even an antique table of half a ton. We are talking about damage between 50 and 100 thousand euros.’

The owner claims they spoke to Giorgi’s father Sergio and that he treated their concerns ‘dismissively’.

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

The former Wimbledon quarter-finalist and her family are reportedly facing tax issues

“I wrote to him asking them to at least give us our belongings back, but he reacted dismissively and said they were items of little value,” the owner added.

‘A hateful behavior, for people like me who have suffered not only economic but also emotional damage.

‘I don’t know how much is true or how much Camila owes the state, but I do know what she owes us.

‘Those things are part of my mother’s life and mine. I want them back, at least that, because the thousands of euros in rent arrears have made us lose hope.’

Neighbours reportedly saw moving vans at the property and alerted the owner. When he arrived at the villa, he saw that the house had been nearly looted.

‘When I arrived there was no one there and the house was half empty,’ they continued. ‘However, in the garden there were other furniture and carpets piled on top of each other.

‘They had probably already loaded the trucks and didn’t know where to put them.’

This summer’s chaos wasn’t the first time the model had come under fire from authorities.

The former world number 26 has also been embroiled in controversy over her vaccination status

Giorgi is still under investigation after being accused of using a fake Covid vaccination certificate to register for the 2022 Australian Open, a charge both she and her father angrily deny.

According to Bild, she is due to appear in court in this case and her lawyer has said she will ask the judge for an abbreviated trial.

The lawyer added that Giorgi denies the allegations against her.

This came after Italian doctor Daniela Grillone, who was under investigation by authorities for allegedly administering fake Covid-19 vaccines to patients, claimed that Giorgi had never received the jab despite being included in the second round.

She then said, ‘I’ve done everything they ask, the Australian government. Every year we’re fine with that. Of course. I’ve done all the vaccinations, yes.’

Giorgi said she received one shot of Grillone and completed the rest of her vaccinations with other doctors.

“The doctor has investigated and she has had a few run-ins with the law this year,” Giorgi said.

Giorgi quietly retired from tennis in May before making a public statement

The 32-year-old star had a parallel career as a social media influencer

“I just got all my vaccinations done in different places. So the problem is with her. Not with me. So I’m very calm about that.”

Giorgi won four titles on the WTA circuit and reached the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2018. That year he reached a personal best of 26th in the world rankings.

She developed a reputation as one of the toughest fighters in women’s football, but also gained attention for her off-field modelling career and her presence as a social media star.