A party held ahead of the U.S. Open appears to have drawn scrutiny from tennis integrity officials.
Several high-profile names from the tennis world were at a New York City event hosted by Miami restaurateur and nightclub owner Dave Grutman at the Crane Club. The gathering was sponsored by DraftKings, a detail that led to the event being flagged to the International Tennis Integrity Agency, according to tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg.
“We are aware of this event, and we are looking into the circumstances and details,” an International Tennis Integrity Agency spokesperson told Rothenberg.
Grutman later shared an Instagram carousel from the pre-U.S. Open party, showing Aryna Sabalenka, Serena Williams, Eva Lys, Mirra Andreeva and Coco Gauff posing with him in front of a DraftKings-branded backdrop.
“Hosting @draftkings Welcome Players Party is my Favorite!!!” he wrote in the caption.
Grutman’s Groot Hospitality portfolio includes Miami hotspots Gekko, Casadonna, Komodo and the LIV nightclub, with tennis lifestyle brand Prince.
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According to his personal website, he counts DraftKings among his partners.
Per Rothenberg, players were not paid to appear at the event, but could still be in violation of anti-corruption rules by attending the shindig due to it’s DraftKings association.
“No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, facilitate, encourage and/or promote Tennis Betting,” Tennis Anti-Corruption rule D.1.b reads, while rule D.1.q adds that “No Covered Person, whether personally or via another arrangement or legal entity, may endorse, be employed, sponsored and/or otherwise engaged by a Tennis Betting Operator.”
Punishment could come in the form of a private warning, though Rothenberg notes former players James Blake, Mardy Fish and Bob Bryan were all hit with five-figure fines for paid promotions for gambling companies.
Grutman — a self-described “obsessed” tennis fan — has close ties with some of the biggest names in the sport, often hooking them up with perks when in Miami and beyond, per Rothenberg.
Other attendees included Taylor Fritz, Matteo Berrettini, Alexandra Eala, Anna Kalinskya and ESPN commentator Caroline Wozniacki.
Kalinskya told Rothenberg she “went to catch up with my friends,” but did not know the party was sponsored by DraftKings.