Camila Giorgi Addresses Vaccination Controversy in Fiery Australian Open Presser After Dominant First-Round Victory
– Italian tennis star Camila Giorgi kicked off her 2023 Australian Open campaign with a clinical straight-sets demolition of Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, but it was the post-match press conference that truly tested her composure. The world No. 70 faced a barrage of questions about explosive allegations linking her to a fake COVID-19 vaccination scandal in Italy, rather than her on-court prowess. Giorgi, known for her powerful groundstrokes and unorthodox playing style, vehemently denied any wrongdoing, shifting the blame squarely onto her former family doctor.
Giorgi, 31 at the time, cruised to a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Pavlyuchenkova in just 52 minutes on Rod Laver Arena, showcasing the flat-hitting aggression that has carried her to career highs and WTA titles on hard courts. It marked a strong start to the tournament for the Macerata native, who had reached the third round at Melbourne in 2022 before falling to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty. Yet, the spotlight quickly shifted from her tennis to a lingering shadow from Italy’s turbulent pandemic era.
The controversy erupted just days before the tournament when Italian media outlets reported that Giorgi and her family were implicated in an investigation into Dr. Daniela Grillone, a family physician arrested in February 2022 for allegedly administering hundreds of fraudulent COVID-19 vaccinations. Grillone, who had treated Giorgi for tennis elbow, claimed in a bombshell interview that the player had approached her in the summer of 2021 seeking fake certificates for mandatory vaccines, including COVID-19. Grillone stated that none of the vaccines against the Giorgi family had actually been administered, alleging that Camila and her relatives had requested falsified proofs to bypass restrictions.
The timing couldn’t have been worse for Giorgi, who was competing in Australia—the site of the infamous 2022 deportation of Novak Djokovic over his own vaccine exemption drama. Reports suggested she might have entered the country last year using questionable documentation, raising questions about her compliance with border rules. Italian authorities had widened the probe to include over 300 patients, but Giorgi’s name surfacing on the eve of the 2023 event amplified the scrutiny.
In the press room, Giorgi’s limited English added to the tension as journalists pressed her on the claims. Seated alongside a visibly agitated father, Sergio Giorgi—who doubles as her coach—the player maintained a calm demeanor while firmly rejecting the accusations. “Of course, the doctor has been investigated, and she had troubles in this year with the law a few times,” she began, her voice steady. “So I did—I just did all my vaccination in different places. So the trouble is hers. Not me. So with that, I’m very calm. Of course, if not, I couldn’t come here and play this tennis, I think.”
Probed further on whether she worried about entering Australia in 2022 with questionable documentation, Giorgi clarified that Grillone had only administered her initial dose. “I did just once vaccination with her, and the other ones I did with other doctors,” she explained. “So I’m fine, and she’s in trouble with the law in Italy. So after it’s she’s going to see. Because I did vaccination with different places, and this need to be very clear because it’s a big thing they say all around, and it’s not my problem. It’s her problem.”
Sergio Giorgi, fuming at the lack of queries about his daughter’s dominant performance, interjected at the conference’s end: “Unbelievable, no questions about tennis.” The outburst underscored the family’s frustration, especially given their history of off-court controversies, including past disputes over unpaid coaches and financial claims from benefactors.
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley, speaking to reporters separately, acknowledged the reports but deferred to authorities. “We weren’t fully aware of all the details until it came out in the media,” Tiley said. “It’s a matter for the family and the relevant authorities to deal with.”
Giorgi’s response echoed a similar denial from Australian player Alex de Minaur earlier that year, who had faced parallel accusations tied to a Spanish hospital probe. De Minaur took to social media to affirm his full vaccination status, emphasizing transparency amid the sport’s vaccine-fueled upheavals.
Unfortunately for Giorgi, her Australian Open run ended abruptly in the second round. She fell to Slovakia’s Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, unable to replicate her opening-round fireworks. The loss capped a tournament defined more by headlines than highlights, but Giorgi’s on-court resilience—much like her handling of the press—remains a hallmark of her career.
In the years since, the vaccination saga has lingered. As of 2024, Giorgi faced ongoing legal ripples from the Italian investigation, though she continued competing until announcing an apparent retirement later that year amid personal and professional challenges. Her story serves as a stark reminder of how the pandemic’s long tail continues to intersect with elite sports, even as the world moves on from masks and mandates.
