Camila Giorgi has spoken out to deny allegations of tax fraud, unpaid rent, and theft made against her and her father.
A former Wimbledon quarter-finalist and winner of four WTA singles titles, former world No 26 Giorgi has been caught up in major controversy ever since her sudden – and silent – retirement earlier this year.
Giorgi and her father and long-time coach, Sergio, have been accused of stealing up to €100,000 worth of furniture and household items from a house they had rented in her native Italy.
Those accusations came alongside reports that she was being investigated for tax fraud, only adding to the controversy and intrigue surrounding her unexpected exit from the sport.
However, in a high-profile interview with Italian broadcaster Verissimo, the 32-year-old has denied all accusations lobbied against her and her father.
“The problems with the tax authorities? My family did not know about them, they were created by outside people who managed me and did this as a job,” said Giorgi.
“My father did not earn a living doing this, he was just my trainer. We were never afraid, we changed the people who managed us and now we are in order.
“I did not expect this. Many misconceptions have been created. They always put my father’s name in the middle, it is not always his fault – he has no business being here.
“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.”
Giorgi’s statement comes at odds with the owner of the villa at the centre of the controversy, which is in Calenzano, a small village close to Florence.
Speaking to Corriere Della Sera back in May, the owner alleged that the Giorgis had refused to pay rent and had left with Persian rugs, among other items.
“Not only did they leave without saying anything with six months of unpaid rent, but they made half of our furniture disappear,” they claimed.
“Persian rugs, prestigious furniture, even a half-ton antique table. We are talking about a loss of 50 to 100 thousand euros.
“I wrote to him that they should at least give us back our things, he responded contemptuously saying that they were objects of little value.
“A hateful behaviour, for someone like me who has suffered economic but also emotional damage. I cannot know how much of it is true or how much Camila owes to the State, but I know what she owes us.
“Those objects are part of my mother’s life and mine: I want them back, at least this since we have lost hope for the thousands and thousands of euros in back rent”.