Tennis star who quit for lingerie modelling career accused of stealing and 'fleeing to US'

Camila Giorgi is in hot water after being accused of failing to cough up six months’ rent and stealing furniture from the villa she was living in.

The former tennis pro reportedly quit the court to focus on modelling and to pursue a career as a fashion designer. However her ambitions could be put on hold while she faces the accusations from the owner of the Florentine villa where she was living, per The Mail.

Prior to her retirement announcement there were rumours that the WTA had been unable to get hold of Giorgi for two months. The 32-year-old last played in March’s Miami Open against world No.1 Iga Swiatek, and it was later alleged that Giorgi had fled to the United States from her native Italy in a bid to evade the Italian tax authorities.

According to La Repubblica, via Corriere della Serra, the former Italian player, who once reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon, took a number of expensive items from the villa, including rugs and antique tables. The villa’s owner also claimed there was six months of unpaid rent owed and ‘damage’ between £42,000 and £85,000.

The villa’s owner said: “Not only did they leave without saying anything with six months of unpaid rent, but they made half of our furniture disappear. Persian rugs, fine furniture, even an antique half-ton table. We are talking about damage between 50 and 100 thousand euros.”

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The former world No.26 is also said to have removed ‘half the furniture’ from the villa in Calenzano, which is located near Florence. The owner has also alleged that they were in discussion with Giorgi’s father Sergio, adding that he had treated their concerns ‘contemptuously’.

He added: “I wrote to him that they must at least give us back our things, he responded in a contemptuous way saying that they were objects of little value. I can’t know how much is true or how much Camila owes the State , but I know what he owes us.”

In a heartbreaking turn, the villa owner claimed the items taken by Giorgi belonged to his mother and have ‘lost hope’, he said: “Those objects are part of my mother’s life and mine: I want them back, at least this much, given that we have lost hope due to the thousands and thousands of euros in back rent.”

In another twist, neighbours are reported to have seen moving vans at the property. He said: “When I arrived there was no one left and the house was half empty. In the garden, however, there were other pieces of furniture and carpets piled on top of each other.”

Giorgi’s lawyers released a statement earlier this month explaining her reason for leaving the villa. It read: “Camila will return to Italy soon. The removal from the Calenzano residence is temporary and due to a divergence of views within the family, and the desire to take a break for reflection to decide how to plan one’s life after abandoning competitive activity.

“No intention of escaping investigations or responsibilities, indeed there has always been maximum transparency and collaboration when required. It [her retirement] is actually a decision that has been made for several months. Since Covid, Camila was thinking of gradually slowing down, she had difficulty coping with the stress of competitive activity.”

Giorgi’s last permanent post on Instagram was shared from Miami, eight weeks ago. Addressing the out of control speculation about her motivations for retirement, she added: “There have been many inaccurate rumours about my future plans, so I hope to provide more information about the interesting opportunities I will have in the future.”