The performance of Camila Giorgi at this year’s Wimbledon Championships could be the start of a surge for the Italian world No.52, according to French coach Patrick Mouratoglou.
Giorgi, 26, achieved her best-ever grand slam run at SW19 by reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament. Seven years after she made her main draw debut there. At Wimbledon she produced hard-fought wins over Anastasija Sevastova, Madison Brengle, Katerina Siniakova and Ekaterina Makarova. Her winning streak was ended by the formidable Serena Williams, who prevailed in three sets on Tuesday in their quarter-final clash.
“I think she is able to play at a very high level of tennis.” Williams’ coach Mouratoglou told Ubitennis.
“First of all, it is about maintaining that level for two or three sets. When she is on, like she was (at Wimbledon), she can play unbelievable tennis.”
Mouratoglou is fully aware of the talent Giorgi has. During her teenage years, she trained at his academy between the age of 11-15. He remembers the talent she illustrated at such a young age. Saying the Giorgi ‘played like she does now‘ on the court. She made her debut on the professional tour back in 2006 at the age of 14 at a $10,000 tournament in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The career of Giorgi has been far from straightforward. Last year she was slammed with a nine-month ban for refusing to play a Fed Cup tie by the Italian Tennis Federation (FIT). During that period she was ineligible to play in the team competition or use the facilities of the organisation. Giorgi requested to miss the tie to play qualifying at as WTA event. Although the FIT said she broke a contract between the two where she had to make herself available to play in the Fed Cup.
Controversy aside, the Italian has illustrated glimmers of her potential on the tour before. Her aggressive play has elevated her to as high as 30th in the world rankings in 2015. During that same year she won her first and so far only WTA title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. However, consistency has been an Achilles heel for Giorgi with her hit-and-miss play. During her first four matches at Wimbledon, she produced 38 double faults.
“I think she has a very aggressive style. Which is about taking the ball early and being aggressive from the first shot. Coming to the net as often as she can” Mouratoglou said about the Italian.
“She just has to find a way to erase a few mistakes in her game and she will go to another level.”
Giorgi is set to rise back inside the top 35 when next week’s rankings are updated.
The full interview (conducted by Ubaldo Scanagatta) can be listened to below
