Camila Giorgi on finances: 'I don't want to talk about that'
Camila Giorgi upset Maria Sharapova in the third round of Indian Wells. (Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- In January, Sports Illustrated executive editor Jon Wertheim wrote about Italian Camila Giorgi's rise and her family's questionable business dealings. Giorgi and her Argentine father, Sergio, allegedly amassed tens of thousands of dollars in debt to would-be private sponsors. Sergio called the accusations a vendetta by a club pro who wanted to coach his daughter, and Camila said she hadn't read the story.
The topic surfaced again this week with Camila back in the spotlight at the BNP Parbias Open, where she upset defending champion Maria Sharapova 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the third round on Monday. The 22-year-old qualifier, who is ranked 79th, has doubled her prize money for the year ($50,349) by reaching the fourth round.
Giorgi had the following exchange with a reporter after one of the biggest victories of her career:
Q. [J]on Wertheim wrote that long piece about all the different investors that you owe. ... You'll win $52,000 here [for making the fourth round]. ... Do you think it would be appropriate to pay some of these people back?
CAMILA GIORGI: Actually, I don't want to talk about that. For me just I'm playing a tournament, so I don't think about that.
Q. But you're a grownup. You're a 22 year old woman. Everyone or many people know about this. Don't you think this would be appropriate to take accountability and deal with this?
CAMILA GIORGI: I deal with this. I don't have problems. But I'm just saying to you that I just want to talk about tennis, not this stuff.
Q. That's part of the game.
CAMILA GIORGI: Is not part of the game, because this is an history that it's ‑‑ I cannot say. I don't know how to say in English, but ‑‑ how you say in English?
THE MODERATOR: Just stick to tennis and...
Q. Wait a second. Let her put it in her own words. You don't have to coach her. She's a 22 year old.
CAMILA GIORGI: Yeah, but you don't need to be aggressive. I'm just answer your question. If you want I answer what you want. It's different. But I answer what I think is the best.
Q. If you want to answer in Spanish or something...
CAMILA GIORGI: No, it's okay.
UPDATE:
