The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has launched a review into the participation of several high-profile tennis players in a party held ahead of the 2026 US Open.
As reported by İdman.Biz, citing journalist Ben Rothenberg, the event took place at the Crane Club on Manhattan's West Side shortly before the start of the main-draw singles competition.
The gathering attracted some of the biggest names in tennis, including Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva and Anna Kalinskaya. Former players Caroline Wozniacki and Chris Eubanks, who are covering the US Open for ESPN, were also in attendance.
The party was organized by Dave Grutman, a prominent Miami nightlife entrepreneur who has close relationships with a number of tennis stars and regularly hosts players during their visits to Miami.
However, questions were raised because the reception appeared to have been organized in connection with US betting company DraftKings, which is listed among Grutman's major partners on his website.
Grutman subsequently posted photographs on social media alongside several tennis players, while a number of guests also posed in front of a backdrop displaying DraftKings branding.
Kalinskaya, who was not among the players photographed directly in front of the branded wall, told Bounces that she had not been aware of the company's sponsorship of the event.
"It was a great party. It was a dinner with a lot of people from the tennis crew... the food was great. There was fish, there was steak. It was great," Kalinskaya said.
According to her, she attended the gathering simply to spend time with friends.
The photographs subsequently attracted attention within the tennis community, raising questions about whether the players' presence at an event associated with a betting operator could conflict with the sport's anti-corruption regulations.
"We are aware of the incident and are looking into the circumstances and details," an ITIA representative told Bounces.
Rothenberg reported that, based on conversations with players and agents connected to the event, the tennis stars were not paid to attend. Unlike a number of promotional appearances traditionally held around the US Open, there was reportedly no direct financial compensation, with players attending because of their personal relationship with Grutman.
However, the absence of payment may not necessarily remove potential concerns under tennis anti-corruption rules.
The Tennis Anti-Corruption Program prohibits covered persons from directly or indirectly facilitating, encouraging or promoting betting on tennis. It also restricts players and other covered persons from being endorsed, employed, sponsored or otherwise engaged by a tennis betting operator.
As a result, even unpaid appearances or photographs at an event promoting a betting company could potentially raise compliance issues.
According to Rothenberg, the case may ultimately result in warnings rather than serious disciplinary sanctions. Similar incidents involving players or other tennis figures appearing in betting-related promotional content have previously resulted in private cautions reminding them to avoid creating the impression of an association with gambling operators.
Cases involving direct financial relationships with betting companies can be treated more seriously, particularly when former players who remain professionally involved in tennis are concerned.
The ITIA has not yet announced whether any of the players who attended the pre-US Open event will face disciplinary action.
