Italian tennis star Camila Giorgi has hung up her racket at 32! On Tuesday, her name was formally displayed on the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) retired players list. The four-time WTA champion’s retirement came as a surprise, as the Italian Tennis Federation (FITP) announced the news on Wednesday without a formal statement from Giorgi herself. Their brief message stating that Giorgi “has said goodbye to tennis” simply confirmed her departure from the sport. While this left tennis fans and veterans in shock wondering what led to this sudden step, American tennis legend, Tracy Austin recently recalled the highest moment of Giorgi’s career during a conversation on the ‘Tennis Channel Live Podcast.’

The former Top 30 player last played at the 2024 Miami Open, where she got thrashed by Iga Swiatek in the R64. Currently ranked 116th in the women’s ranking, Giorgi didn’t enter her name at the 2024 Roland Garros. She didn’t even put up any social media posts, nor did she address the matter publicly. However, the FITP later confirmed the news stating, “A WTA 1000 title in Montreal, best ranking at number 26 WTA and 4 overall trophies in her career, Camila Giorgi says goodbye to tennis at the age of 32.” The 61-year-old former World No.1 was asked her thoughts on this sudden “real retirement”.

Despite reaching a career-high ranking of No. 26 in the world, she retired having last held the No. 116 position, Austin said, “Well, if you look at her results from this year, she has been outside the Top 100. Her ranking has gone south.” However, Tracy recalled Camila’s red hot form in her career calling her dangerous: “Somebody who has played as well as Camila Giorgi, has been as dangerous as Camila Giorgi. She has always been that dangerous floater in the draw.”

Then, after seeing a video clip from Giorgi’s historic feat, Tracy Austin added, “This is when she won in Montreal in 2021. I called every single one of her matches. She beat Pliskova there, she beat Pegula, she beat Gauff, she beat Kvitova, she was on fire! She was smarter that tournament, she was building points.” Austin spoke about how Giorgi overcame all obstacles in that tournament to finally clinch one of the biggest victories in her career at the 2021 National Bank Open in Montreal, defeating former world No. 1, Karolína Plíšková, in the final.. “Actually it’s sad to see her go,” Austin felt nobody wanted to see her go because “She was Hot!”

For the unversed, she has a huge fan following on social media. But there was one incident in her career that didn’t go in the good books of Serena Williams‘ former coach.

“The lowest moment of her career!” – When Serena Williams’ former coach lashed out at Camila Giorgi

It happened during the 2023 Birmingham Classic tournament. The Italian former professional tennis star was caught celebrating her winning point after Venus Williams fell dangerously during the first-round clash of the tournament. Williams was already heavily strapped on her knee. She slipped and fell to the ground while trying to hit a forehand. Although, Venus Williams won that match in a three-set thriller. But that small incident sparked a major controversy in the tennis world.

Seeing Camila Giorgi continue the play and celebrate the winning point, Serena Williams’ former coach, Rennae Stubbs, tweeted, “Camilla Giorgi just yelled Si when @Venuseswilliams just fell over and screamed! I mean wtf !!! I honestly think that could be the lowest moment of her career!!!! And you NEVER want to see this face coming at you now! Come on Vee!”

In case the Italian tennis star changes her mind and returns to tennis in the near future then she will have to make herself available for out-of-competition dope testing for at least 6 months prior to the sanctioned event for her comeback. Well that is yet to be seen.