By Chris Oddo | Tuesday April 12, 2016

 

Camila Giorgi's chances of playing the 2016 Rio Games are in jeopardy as tension between her team and the Italian Federation is hot.

Photo Source: AP

Italy’s Camila Giorgi turned her back on her nation’s Fed Cup team in order to play qualifying at next week’s Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, and the Italian Federation is not taking kindly to it.

More: Giorgi, Italian Federation at Odds over Fed Cup

On Tuesday the President of Italy’s Tennis Federation, Angelo Binaghi, said that Giorgi’s decision to skip this weekend’s World Group Playoff Tie at Lieida, Spain could seriously interfere with her chances of playing this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio.

Currently ranked 49 in the world, Giorgi is in position to qualify. But it might not matter, says Binaghi.

"The ITF rules say that players must be 'in good standing' with their federation to qualify for the Games. For me right now Giorgi is not in good standing," Binaghi said.

A few weeks ago, Giorgi announced that she’d be cutting ties with the FIT, and the Federation has quickly hit back, saying that Giorgi was contracted to play. Her arrangement with the Federation reportedly includes a loan, bonuses, plus access to training staff and facilities.

"We're waiting for them to pay up and they certainly won't, so at that point it's difficult to be in good standing with the people who you asked for help," Binaghi said, according to the Associated Press. "We've cared for her over the years and then when they win two matches they forget about us."