Camila Giorgi’s Surprise Retirement Sparks Emotional Tribute From American Tennis Icon.
Italian tennis player Camila Giorgi has quietly stepped away from professional tennis at the age of 32, a move that caught much of the tennis world off guard. Her name recently appeared on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s official list of retired players, confirming the end of a career that produced four WTA titles and a career-high ranking of world No. 26.
The announcement came not from Giorgi herself, but from the Italian Tennis Federation, which released a brief statement confirming that she had “said goodbye to tennis.” Giorgi has not addressed her retirement publicly, nor has she posted about it on social media, leaving fans and former players wondering what led to her sudden decision.
Giorgi last competed at the 2024 Miami Open, where she suffered a heavy defeat to world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in the round of 64. Ranked 116th at the time, she also skipped the 2024 French Open, further fueling speculation about her future before the retirement was officially confirmed.
As the news settled, American tennis legend Tracy Austin reflected on Giorgi’s career during an appearance on the Tennis Channel Live Podcast. While acknowledging that Giorgi’s ranking had slipped outside the top 100 in recent months, Austin emphasized how dangerous the Italian could be at her best, describing her as an unpredictable threat capable of unsettling any opponent.
Austin fondly recalled Giorgi’s standout moment at the 2021 National Bank Open in Montreal, where she delivered the finest performance of her career. Giorgi stormed through the draw, defeating top players including Karolína Plíšková, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, and Petra Kvitová before lifting the title. Austin, who commentated on every one of Giorgi’s matches that week, described her form as “on fire,” praising her improved shot selection and tactical awareness throughout the tournament.
“It’s sad to see her go,” Austin admitted, adding that Giorgi’s explosive style and fearless approach made her one of the most exciting players to watch when everything clicked.
Despite her popularity with fans, Giorgi’s career was not without controversy. One of the most criticized moments came during the 2023 Birmingham Classic, when she celebrated a point after Venus Williams slipped and fell awkwardly during their match. The incident drew sharp criticism from former Serena Williams coach Rennae Stubbs, who labeled it the lowest moment of Giorgi’s career in a strongly worded social media post.
Whether Giorgi’s retirement is permanent remains uncertain. Should she choose to return to professional tennis, regulations would require her to undergo out-of-competition drug testing for at least six months before being cleared to compete again.
