Former Italian tennis ace Camila Giorgi has made a high-profile return to public view after months out of the spotlight, stepping onto the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival over the weekend.
The 33-year-old, who quietly retired from professional tennis last year, appeared relaxed and confident as she attended the prestigious event in her home country. Giorgi dazzled in a white, sequin-covered gown, drawing attention as cameras followed her return to Italy.
Her appearance comes after a turbulent period marked by controversy. Following her sudden retirement in May 2024, Giorgi was accused of leaving Italy amid claims of unpaid rent and alleged tax irregularities. Reports suggested she owed several months’ rent on a villa near Florence and had attempted to evade Italian tax authorities allegations she has consistently denied.
Since stepping away from the sport, Giorgi has largely stayed out of the public eye while transitioning into a career in lingerie modeling, a path she had already explored alongside her tennis career. After retiring, she relocated to the United States with her family, a move that fueled speculation she had “fled” Italy — claims she later dismissed.
Speaking on Italian television last year, Giorgi described the accusations surrounding her rental dispute as “laughable” and insisted her move to the U.S. was permanent and planned, not an escape. She also rejected allegations of tax evasion, explaining that any financial issues stemmed from mistakes made by former legal representatives rather than her own actions.
Giorgi added that her decision to retire from tennis coincided with the conclusion of an investigation by Italy’s financial police, the Guardia di Finanza, and said her family had been unaware of the issues until they surfaced publicly.
During her playing career, Giorgi reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 26 in 2018. She enjoyed deep runs at major tournaments, including a fourth-round appearance at the 2013 US Open, a quarter-final finish at Wimbledon in 2018, and another quarter-final showing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games representing Italy.
