Tennis star who secretly quit the sport at 32 'for career as lingerie model' has 'FLED Italy for America to avoid tax dispute'... but is 'due in court' over accusations of using a fake Covid certificate to play in Australian Open

A tennis star who secretly quit the sport at the age of 32 to pursue a career as a lingerie model has fled Italy to avoid a dispute with tax authorities, according to a report.

The Italian press reported earlier this week that Camila Giorgi had been included by the International Tennis Integrity Agency as a 'retired' player in a bid to focus on a career in fashion.

Giorgi had won four titles on the WTA circuit and reached the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in 2018 - achieving a career-high world ranking of 26 that year.

She has developed a reputation as one of the hardest hitters in the women's game, but she has also gained attention for her modelling career off the court and presence as a social media star.

It had appeared that she would be ditching the sports industry for modelling, but, according to Italian publication Gazzetta, the investigations of the Florence Prosecutor's Office are reporting that Giorgi and her family have a number of gaps in their taxes.

The outlet reports that Giorgi, who has over 730,000 followers on Instagram, has fled to the United States following her exit from professional tennis.

It is said that Giorgi's father and former coach Sergio, who is Argentinian, her mother, Claudia, and her brothers, Leandro and Amadeus, also have issues with the tax authorities.

Giorgi has previously come under fire after facing accusations that she used a fake Covid vaccination certificate to get into the Australian Open in 2022, which she and her father angrily denied.

It is reported however that the star is set to appear before an investigating judge in Vicenza on July 16 for the first preliminary hearing of the investigation into the accusations.

The Vicenza Prosecutor's Office have reportedly requested the indictment of Giorgi, as well as 20 other suspects including Italian singer Madame and doctor Erich Volker Goepel.

It came after Italian doctor Daniela Grillone, who had been under investigation by authorities for allegedly delivering fake Covid-19 vaccinations to patients, alleged that Giorgi never received the jab despite her featuring in the second round.

Proof of a Covid vaccination was a requirement for entry into the country - with Novak Djokovic infamously deported from Australia in the same year after refusing to take the jab.

At the time she said: 'I did everything what they ask, the Australian government. Each year we are fine with that. Of course. I did all vaccination, yes.'

Giorgi said she received one vaccination with Grillone and completed the rest of her requirements with other medical practitioners.

'The doctor has been investigate [sic], and she had troubles in this year with the law a few times,' Giorgi said.

'I just did all my vaccination in different places. So the trouble is hers. Not me. So with that, I'm very calm.

She often posts racy snaps showcasing a range of underwear and sportswear for her own fashion brand called Giomila.

She has been combining her work as a professional tennis player as well as a model and business owner, but according to Marca, will now be focusing on fashion.