Camila Giorgi

Camila Giorgi (; born 30 December 1991) is an Italian professional tennis player. She made her senior international tournament debut in 2006 at the ITF Women's Circuit. After winning her first ITF title in 2009, she made her Grand Slam and main draw debut at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.
Giorgi went on to reach the fourth round of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships in just her second appearance at the tournament. After her successful run at the championships, she made her top-100 debut in the WTA rankings. The following year, she followed it up with a third-round run at the Wimbledon Championships, and made her second Grand Slam fourth round at the US Open. She reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships, six years after her Wimbledon breakout. Giorgi reached her first WTA final in 2014 at the Katowice Open, and then won her first title at the 2015 Topshelf Open. She reached her best singles ranking of world No. 26 in October 2018.
Giorgi is known for her aggressive style of game and her powerful flat groundstrokes, and is considered to be one of the hardest hitters of the ball on the tour. Her most notable professional wins have come at the 2013 US Open, 2014 BNP Paribas Open, and 2014 Aegon International, defeating former world No. 1 players Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova, and Victoria Azarenka, respectively.
Personal life.
Giorgi was born in Macerata, Italy, to parents Sergio Giorgi and Claudia Gabriella Fullone, both Argentines of Italian descent who emigrated to Italy from La Plata. Her father was drafted in Argentina in 1982 and fought in the Falklands War against the British, while her mother is a fashion designer. Now, her father coaches her full-time while her mother designs her dresses for tennis matches. According to a number of newspaper reports, she is Jewish. However, according to "The Jerusalem Post", these reports have not been confirmed. Giorgi considered emigrating to Israel in 2012, after her father opened negotiations with the Israel Tennis Association over the financial terms for her immigration. As of September 2013, the Giorgi family was based in the Italian city of Pisa.
Giorgi is one of four children. Her older brother Leandro is studying to be an actor, and younger brother Amadeus is a footballer, who currently plays for Serie D club A.C.D. Campodarsego. She had a sister named Antonela who died in a car accident in Paris.
Career.
Junior career.
Following an initial interest in artistic gymnastics, Giorgi decided to devote herself to tennis after assisting in her brother's training, when she was five years old. She was subjected to hard training by her father, Sergio. Two years later, 1976 French Open champion Adriano Panatta said of her: "It's the first time I play a girl who plays like Andre Agassi." In 2000, she was spotted by tennis coach Nick Bollettieri, who subsequently offered her seven months of training (previously offered only to Maria Sharapova).
In November 2005, she reached the final of the Nike Junior Tour, but was defeated by Slovakia's Zuzana Luknárová. Giorgi reached the final at the Sey Development Cup in the Czech Republic, and the round of 16 at the Astrid Bowl in Belgium.
2006–10: Early professional years.
Giorgi started with $10k tournaments, and obtained her first significant results reaching two semifinals in Baku and Jakarta. At the end of the season, she took part in her first $25k tournament. She closed 2006 with ten wins and seven losses, and as the 944th in the WTA rankings.
She obtained her best results in 2007 in September at Limoges in France, reaching the quarterfinals in a $10k tournament; then in $25k tournaments that she played at the end of the season, in December, in Lagos, Nigeria, where she reached the quarterfinals.
Giorgi started 2008 playing several tournaments in France, where she lived with her family. In May, she played for the first time qualifying for a major tournament circuit, thanks to a wildcard obtained at the Italian Open. She lost to Jill Craybas, No. 66 in the world, in a third set tie-breaker. She also played in the first round of the main draw in Rome-Tevere Remo (25k), Contrexéville (50k), and Rimini (75k). In Martina Franca (25k), she qualified and reached the second round. In November, in Saint Denis (La Réunion, 25k), she reached the quarterfinals. Giorgi finished the year 480th in the WTA rankings.
At the beginning of the 2009 season, Giorgi played few tournaments, failing to qualify for the main draw. She achieved her first important results in April, when she qualified for and reached the quarterfinals of two $25k tournaments. After some successes in tournaments in France, Giorgi won her first ITF tournament in August, in Katowice (25k), starting again from qualifying and defeating players such as Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová (ranked No. 105) and, in the final, Ksenia Pervak (No. 135). After another quarterfinal in Nantes (50k), Giorgi ended with the victory in a $50k tournament in Toronto. With these two successes, she ended the year with 33 wins and 12 defeats, and reached No. 285 in the rankings.
The 2010 season began poorly for Giorgi, as she suffered three first-round losses in the first three months of the year. In June, she reached the final of a $25k tournament, in Bratislava. In the summer, she played several tournaments in America, where she went to live (in Miami, with her family), without remarkable results. In August, trying for the first time to qualify for a Grand Slam tournament – the US Open – she was defeated in the first round. However, in October, Camila won (losing only one set, in the first round) a $25k tournament in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
2011.
In February, Giorgi reached the semifinals in two ITF events, but her best result came in May, when she reached the final of a $50k tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina, and a week later triumphed in Carson ($50k) yielding a single set and dominating the semifinal with an unprecedented double 6–0. In June, at Wimbledon, Giorgi passed the qualifiers and reached her first appearance in a major tournament, but she lost in the first round to eventual quarterfinalist Tsvetana Pironkova. Giorgi reached semifinals in two other tournaments before closing the year with 36 wins and 21 defeats, and 149th in the WTA rankings, reaching her best ranking in October when she was No. 141 in the world.
2012.
Giorgi began her season by playing at the $25k tournament in Innisbrook, Florida. As the top seed, she lost in the second round to Jessica Pegula. Then, she competed at the $25k tournament in Plantation, Florida. Seeded second, she was defeated in the first round by Johanna Konta. In February, Giorgi played in her WTA tournament of the year at the Memphis International. Seeded fourth for qualifying, she made it to the main draw beating Naomi Broady and sixth seed Chichi Scholl. In the first round, she stunned top-seed Nadia Petrova, 6–4, 6–2. In the second round, she lost to Stéphanie Foretz Gacon, 5–7, 4–6. During the week of 5 March, Giorgi competed at the $25k tournament in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. As the second seed, she reached the semifinals where she was defeated by Madison Brengle. Next, Giorgi was the top seed at the $25k tournament in Clearwater, Florida. She made it from qualifying all the way to the quarterfinals where she was stopped by Stefanie Vögele.
Giorgi played in her first WTA Tour clay-court tournament of the year at the Charleston Cup. Seeded 19th for qualifying, she made it to the main draw defeating Grace Min and 12th seed Chan Yung-jan. In the first round, she lost to Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová. Giorgi fell in the final round of qualifying at the French Open to Heidi El Tabakh, in three sets.
Giorgi qualified for the Wimbledon Championships for the second year in a row defeating Emily Webley-Smith, Olivia Rogowska, and Alexa Glatch. In the first round, she beat 16th seed and compatriot Flavia Pennetta. Then she defeated Anna Tatishvili 6–3, 6–1, and in the third round 20th seed Nadia Petrova, 6–3, 7–6, to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. However, Giorgi's Wimbledon run came to an end when she lost in the fourth round to third seed and eventual finalist, Agnieszka Radwańska, 2–6, 3–6.
In June, it was reported that Giorgi was considering immigrating to Israel to play on the Israel Federation Cup team. Raphael Gellar of Israel Sports Radio said that "based on her ranking ... [she] would automatically ... [be] second on the team following Shahar Pe'er."
Giorgi began US Open Series by playing at the Carlsbad Open. As the top seed in qualifying, she lost in the first round to Noppawan Lertcheewakarn. Giorgi then received a wildcard to compete at the Washington Open. She was defeated in the first round by Irina Falconi, in three sets. Playing as a wildcard at the Cincinnati Open, Giorgi beat 14th seed and compatriot Francesca Schiavone in the first round, 6–1, 6–3. In the second round, she lost to wildcard Sloane Stephens, in straight sets.
2013.
While ailing from a shoulder injury, Giorgi lost in the first round in Brisbane, Sydney, and at the Australian Open. Her first win came in April in Charleston, where she reached the second round but lost in straight sets to Serena Williams. Giorgi qualified for the main draw in Madrid, but lost in the first round to Nadia Petrova, in three sets. Two weeks later, Giorgi stunned world No. 13, Marion Bartoli, in the first round in Strasbourg, but lost in the second round to Eugenie Bouchard.
At the French Open, Giorgi lost again in the first round. Former top-15 player Peng Shuai defeated her in two sets. At Wimbledon, Giorgi got to the third round, beating British wildcard Samantha Murray, in straight sets, and then-Romanian No. 1, Sorana Cîrstea. However, she lost in straight sets in the third round to eventual champion Marion Bartoli.
At the US Open, Giorgi had one of the biggest upsets of her career, defeating former world No. 1, Caroline Wozniacki, in three sets. She subsequently lost to compatriot Roberta Vinci in the fourth round.
2014: Breakthrough, two WTA finals.
Giorgi competed at the Australian Open, where she reached for the first time the second round beating Australian wildcard Storm Sanders, in three sets. She lost in the next round to Alizé Cornet, despite a 4–1 lead in the deciding set. In February, Giorgi competed for the first time in the Fed Cup. She defeated Madison Keys, and Italy went on to defeat the US team 3–1.
In March, Giorgi qualified for the main draw in Indian Wells where she beat Andrea Petkovic, Sorana Cîrstea, and former world No. 1, Maria Sharapova. With this victory, she improved her record to 3–2 lifetime against top-10 opponents. She lost in the fourth round to eventual champion Flavia Pennetta.
In April at the Katowice Open, she defeated defending champion Roberta Vinci, Shahar Pe'er, and Carla Suárez Navarro to reach the final, which she lost to Alizé Cornet in three sets, after holding a match point at 5–4 in the third. In Rome, Giorgi defeated top-10 player Dominika Cibulková in the first round but lost to Christina McHale, after winning the first set. Giorgi finally beat Alizé Cornet who was the second seed in Strasbourg, after losing two significant matches to her. At the French Open, Giorgi defeated Bojana Jovanovski in the first round but lost to 2009 champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the second.
Giorgi competed in Eastbourne, beating Victoria Azarenka in the first round before going down to Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals. At Wimbledon, she lost in the second round to Alison Riske. She reached the quarterfinals in Bad Gastein and then lost in the first round at the following three tournaments. Giorgi made a good run in New Haven, defeating Wozniacki who would finish summer hard-court season with 19–4 and Garbiñe Muguruza, before losing in the semifinal to Magdaléna Rybáriková. She was upset early in the US Open, however, losing to a ranked 221 in the world, Anastasia Rodionova, after serving for the match in the second set.
Giorgi lost in the opening rounds in Wuhan and Beijing to Elina Svitolina and Lucie Šafářová, respectively. She broke her series of losses in Linz defeating Andrea Petkovic for the third time in the season. Then she advanced to her second WTA career final without losing a set, but lost to Karolína Plíšková in three sets, again after holding a match point on the opponent's serve. The Italian ended season reaching quarterfinals in Moscow where she defeated the third seed Flavia Pennetta for the second time in her career before losing to Kateřina Siniaková in over three hours. Giorgi finished the season with 8–3 record against top-20 players and reached a career-high ranking of 31 before the US Open.
2015: First WTA title.
Giorgi played in Hobart and reached the quarterfinals, despite serving 23 double faults in the first round against Storm Sanders. At the Australian Open, she reached the third round for the first time, beating Flavia Pennetta and Tereza Smitková, before losing to Venus Williams, despite serving for the match in the second set. Giorgi played in Fed Cup and beat Alizé Cornet to give Italy a 2–0 lead against France, however, she lost her second match to Caroline Garcia. Italy later lost the tie being the first-ever team to lose after a 2–0 lead at the World Group stage.
After early losses in Indian Wells and Miami, Giorgi once again performed well in Katowice, reaching her second consecutive final by defeating top seed Agnieszka Radwańska in the semifinal. In the final, however, she fell to Anna Karolína Schmiedlová, in straight sets.
After a close match with world No. 1, Serena Williams, Giorgi endured a disappointing clay-court season, losing in the first round of her three warm-up events for the French Open. She secured her first win in five matches against Tatjana Maria in the first round of the French Open before falling to eventual quarterfinalist Garbiñe Muguruza in straight sets in the second round.
Giorgi returned to form at the start of the grass-court season, claiming her first WTA Tour title at the Topshelf Open in Rosmalen, defeating Irina Falconi, Dutch wildcard Michaëlla Krajicek, Yaroslava Shvedova in the quarterfinals where Giorgi saved three match points in the final set tie-break, home favorite Kiki Bertens in the semifinals and Belinda Bencic in the final.
At the Wimbledon Championships, Giorgi was the No. 31 seed and defeated Teliana Pereira and Lara Arruabarrena in the first and second rounds, respectively, then lost to Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.
2016.
Giorgi kicked off season at the Brisbane International where she lost in the first round to fourth seed and eventual finalist, Angelique Kerber. Seeded second at the Hobart International, Giorgi was defeated in the quarterfinal by eventual finalist, Eugenie Bouchard. At the Australian Open, she lost in the first round to top seed Serena Williams.
2017.
Giorgi began the 2017 season at the Shenzhen Open. She made it to the semifinals where she lost to eighth seed, last year finalist, and eventual finalist, Alison Riske. At the Australian Open, Giorgi was defeated in the first round by 12th seed Timea Bacsinszky.
Giorgi retired during her final round of qualifying match at the Qatar Open to Lauren Davis.
2018.
Giorgi started her season at the Shenzhen Open. She lost in the first round to Ana Bogdan. Getting through qualifying at the Sydney International, she reached the semifinal where she was defeated by eventual champion Angelique Kerber. At the Australian Open, Giorgi lost in the second round to eighteenth seed Ashleigh Barty.
In Dubai, she retired from her second round of qualifying match against Sofya Zhuk due to a left thigh injury. Giorgi returned to action in March at the Miami Open. She was defeated in the first round by Donna Vekić.
Giorgi began clay-court season at the Charleston Open where she lost in the third round to seventh seed Madison Keys. At the Ladies Open Lugano, she was defeated in her third-round match by eventual finalist Aryna Sabalenka. In Prague, Giorgi made it to the semifinals where she lost to eventual finalist Mihaela Buzărnescu. Playing in Rome, she was defeated in the final round of qualifying by Danielle Collins. At the French Open, Giorgi reached the third round where she lost to tenth seed and eventual finalist, Sloane Stephens.
Starting grass-court season at the Nottingham Open, Giorgi was defeated in the first round by Dalila Jakupović. At the Birmingham Classic, Giorgi lost in the second round of qualifying to Océane Dodin. In the Eastbourne International, Giorgi was defeated in the second round by top seed, last year finalist, and eventual champion Caroline Wozniacki. Ranked 52 at the Wimbledon Championships, Giorgi advanced to the quarterfinal for the first time in her career beating 21st seed Anastasija Sevastova, Madison Brengle, Kateřina Siniaková, and Ekaterina Makarova. She lost in her quarterfinal match to 25th seed, former world No. 1, six-time Wimbledon champion, and eventual finalist, Serena Williams.
In August, Giorgi competed at the Cincinnati Open. Despite losing in the final round of qualifying, she entered the main draw as a lucky loser. She reached the second round where she was defeated by 13th seed Madison Keys. Getting through qualifying at the Connecticut Open, Giorgi lost in the second round to lucky loser Belinda Bencic. At the US Open, Giorgi was defeated in the second round by 16th seed and two-time US Open champion, Venus Williams.
In Tokyo at the Pan Pacific Open, she made it to the semifinal defeating qualifier Misaki Doi, top seed Caroline Wozniacki, and Victoria Azarenka. She lost in her semifinal match to third seed and eventual finalist, Naomi Osaka. At the Wuhan Open, Giorgi was defeated in the first round by Aleksandra Krunić. Seeded fifth at the Linz Open, Giorgi won her second WTA career title beating qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final. her final tournament of the season was supposed to be at the Luxembourg Open, but she withdrew due to a right foot injury.
Giorgi ended the season ranked 26.
2019.
She pulled out of the Brisbane International, and started off her season at the Sydney International. Giorgi lost in the second round to second seed and defending champion, Angelique Kerber. Seeded 27th at the Australian Open, Giorgi was defeated in the third round by seventh seed Karolína Plíšková.
Playing in the Fed Cup tie versus Switzerland, Giorgi lost both of her rubbers to Viktorija Golubic and Belinda Bencic. Switzerland won the tie 3-1 over Italy. At the Qatar Open, Giorgi was defeated in the first round by fifth seed Kiki Bertens. Giorgi missed the Dubai Championships and the Indian Wells Open due to injury. She returned to action at the Miami Open. Seeded 29th, she lost in the second round to Tatjana Maria. 
Giorgi missed the clay-court season including the French Open due to unknown circumstances.
Giorgi returned to the tour in June at the Eastbourne International. She was defeated in the first round by Hsieh Su-wei. At Wimbledon, Giorgi lost in the first round to Dayana Yastremska.
In the Washington Open, Giorgi reached the final where she was defeated by Jessica Pegula. At the Rogers Cup, she lost in the first round to Victoria Azarenka. Playing in Ohio at the Western & Southern Open, Giorgi was defeated in the first round by Maria Sakkari. At the first edition of the Bronx Open, she reached her second final of the season where she lost to qualifier Magda Linette. At the US Open, Giorgi suffered a first-round thrashing at the hands of 30th seed Maria Sakkari.
In Tokyo at the Pan Pacific Open, Giorgi advanced to the quarterfinal where she lost to ninth seed Elise Mertens. At the Wuhan Open, Giorgi retired from her first-round match against lucky loser Rebecca Peterson due to a right wrist injury. Seeded sixth at the Luxembourg Open, Giorgi was defeated in the first round by Andrea Petkovic. Giorgi competed in her final tournament of the year at the Open de Limoges where she lost in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova.
Giorgi ended the year ranked 98.
2020.
Giorgi kicked off her 2020 season at the ASB Classic. Getting through the qualifying rounds, she lost in the first round to top seed and eventual champion, Serena Williams. At the Hobart International, she was defeated in the final round of qualifying by Kateryna Kozlova. In Melbourne, she reached the third round where she lost to seventeenth seed and 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.
During the Fed Cup tie versus Croatia, Giorgi played one rubber and defeated Jana Fett. Italy won the tie 2-0. Playing in Dubai, she was defeated in the first round of qualifying by Julia Görges. At the Qatar Open, she lost in the final round of qualifying to Bernarda Pera. Competing at the first edition of the Lyon Open, Giorgi made it to the quarterfinals where she fell to seventh seed Daria Kasatkina.
2021.
Giorgi got the year off to a start at the first edition of the Yarra Valley Classic. She retired during her second-round match against second seed Sofia Kenin due to a left thigh injury. At the Australian Open, she lost in the second round to 15th seed Iga Świątek.
In March, Giorgi competed at the Lyon Open. She reached the quarterfinals where she was defeated by qualifier and eventual champion Clara Tauson. At the Miami Open, she lost in the first round to Russian qualifier Liudmila Samsonova.
Giorgi withdrew from the Volvo Car Open, and the Fed Cup tie against Romania due to testing positive for Covid-19. She returned to action in May by playing at the Italian Open. She was defeated in a three-hour and fifty-one-minute first-round match by Sara Sorribes Tormo. Giorgi lost in the second round at the first edition of the Emilia-Romagna Open to third seed Coco Gauff.
Playing style.
Giorgi is a baseline player, who has a highly aggressive playing style. She likes to take the ball early on the rise, and possesses powerful, flat groundstrokes. Her strongest groundstroke is her two-handed backhand, with which she can hit winners from any position on the court. She hits the ball with relentless power, and is known to be one of the hardest hitters on the tour. She frequently utilizes aggressive serve-forehand combinations to finish points quickly. Giorgi aims to generate extreme angles with both her forehand and backhand, to surprise baseline opponents and hit winners with ease. She is known for her tendency to aim for the lines, which means that she accumulates significant numbers of both winners and unforced errors in any match. Unlike the rest of her game, her serve is known for its inconsistency: she has a tendency to take risks on her second serve, leading to a relatively high double fault count. In 2015, Giorgi served the most double faults recorded in WTA history, at 458. She regularly hits deep returns, and takes the ball early while receiving, allowing her to hit a significant number of return winners. In an article for "LiveTennis.com", Nicholas Walz commented on Giorgi's game, saying: "Her play is often too erratic – she followed her result in Indian Wells [defeating No. 4 seed, Maria Sharapova] by losing in the Miami Open qualifying [two weeks later] to Zarina Diyas." Her preferred surfaces are fast hard and grass courts.
Sponsorships.
Giorgi wears custom-made clothes, designed by her mother. Up to 2021, Giorgi used Babolat racquets, specifically using the Pure Storm model, and later the Pure Strike model. In 2021, Giorgi switched companies and began to use the Yonex VCORE 100.
Performance timelines.
"Only main-draw results in WTA Tour, Grand Slam tournaments, Fed Cup/Billie Jean King Cup, and Olympic Games are included in win/loss records."
Singles.
"Current after the 2021 Emilia-Romagna Open."
Notes
Fed Cup participation.
Giorgi debuted for the Italy Fed Cup team in 2014.