By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, January 17, 2023

A storm of COVID controversy has swirled around Camila Giorgi this month.

More: Kyrgios Out of Australian Open

Today, Giorgi tried to shed some light on the controversy. Giorgi responded to allegations from her own doctor that she used a fake COVID-19 vaccination card to play tournaments around the world, including the 2022 Grand Slams.

After Giorgi annihilated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 6-1 in her Australian Open first-round match, she was asked to address charges she competed, while unvaccinated, using fraudulent vaccination card. 



Giorgi shot down allegations she competed unvaccinated saying "I did my vaccinations in different places" and said her former doctor is the one facing legal issues.

"I did just once vaccination with her, and the other ones I did with other doctors," Giorgi told the media in Melbourne. "So I'm fine, and she the one—she's in trouble with the law in Italy. So after it's she's going to see."

In an explosive interview with Italian newspaper Corriere del Veneto, Dr. Daniela Grillone, Giorgi's former family physician, claimed she wrote fake vaccination cards for the 31-year-old Italian and her family.

“Camila Giorgi suffered from the so-called tennis elbow. Shortly before the beginning of summer, she had come asking for the possibility of obtaining false [vaccination cards] of all the mandatory vaccines, as well as the Covid vaccine,” Dr. Grillone told Corriere del Veneto.  “I can confirm with absolute certainty that none of the vaccines against the Giorgi family have actually been administered."

The doctor claims not only did Giorgi scam the system using a false vaccination card, she never paid her for the fake card.

"I have not received any payment in that case," Dr. Grillone said. "I am deeply upset and sorry for my action.”




Italian media reports Dr. Grillone, who has admitted writing hundreds of false vaccination cards, is cooperating with authorities and that Giorgi is under investigation.

The WTA has issued a statement saying it is monitoring the investigation of the Italian. Giorgi said she would not be competing at the Australian Open if she wasn't legitimately vaccinated.

"Of course, the doctor has been investigate, and she had troubles in this year with the law a few times," Giorgi said. "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."

Last January, Giorgi reached the Australian Open third round, falling eventual-champion Ash Barty. 

Former world No. 1 Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia because of his unvaccinated status last January and  then wasn’t allowed to play in the United States.

Giorgi, the 2021 Montreal champion, played four tournaments on North American soil last summer: San Jose, Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open.

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is not required to enter Australia now. AO Tournament Director Craig Tiley announced last week if a player tests positive for Coronavirus during the Happy Slam then that player will still be permitted to play.

Under Australian law if there is proof of a traveler presenting false documentation, then that visitor's visa can be revoked.

Giorgi claims "I did everything what they ask, the Australian government."

The world No. 69 said the problem is with her doctor not her.

"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," Giorgi said. "It's her problem."

Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty