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A glamorous pre-US Open party attended by tennis royalty including Serena Williams has been plunged into controversy amid an investigation into the star-studded bash.
The lavish dinner was hosted on August 27 by Miami nightlife mogul David Grutman at the Crane Club in Manhattan ahead of the final Grand Slam of the season.
However, the event has now drawn the scrutiny of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) due to it being sponsored by sports gambling giants DraftKings.
'We are aware of this event, and we are looking into the circumstances and details,' an ITIA spokesperson confirmed.
The controversy erupted after Grutman - the entrepreneur behind Miami hotspots like LIV, Komodo and Gekko - shared photos from the event to his Instagram followers.
Top stars such as Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Mirra Andreeva and Williams were seen posing alongside Grutman in front of a DraftKings branded backdrop.
A glamorous pre-US Open party attended by tennis royalty including Serena Williams, pictured in October, has been plunged into controversy amid an investigation into the star-studded bash
A number of tennis stars flocked to New York's Crane Club for the glitzy event last month
The lavish dinner was hosted on August 27 by Miami nightlife mogul David Grutman
'Hosting @draftkings Welcome Players Party is my Favorite!!!' Grutman captioned the post.
Men's stars Taylor Fritz and Matteo Berrettini were also pictured at the bash, alongside Alexandra Eala and ESPN commentator Caroline Wozniacki.
Under strict Tennis Anti-Corruption Program regulations, professional players face stringent restrictions regarding sports gambling entities.
Rule D.1.b dictates that 'No Covered Person shall, directly or indirectly, facilitate, encourage and/or promote Tennis Betting,'
Meanwhile 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.'
Players were not paid to attend the private dinner, and several stars were reportedly unaware of DraftKings' commercial involvement before arriving.
Anna Kalinskaya admitted she was caught off guard by the company's branding, explaining that she simply 'went to catch up with my friends' and did not know the party was sponsored by the sportsbook operator.
Grutman, an avid tennis fan who maintains close friendships with top players on the tour, lists DraftKings as one of his brand partners on his personal website.
Defending US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka was among the attendees on the night
US star Coco Gauff was also pictured at the party, which is now under investigation
The lavish affair was hosted just a few days before the tournament began. Since then, a number of the attendees have made headlines following on-court drama.
Most recently, Sabalenka was forced to stop her third-round match against Kamilla Rakhimova to complain about someone apparently smoking weed inside the US Open's Louis Armstrong Stadium.
'Someone is smoking weed,' she said as she paused play at 30-0 up to speak to Asderaki-Moore. 'Would you mind to (tell them to deal with it) because it's so strong.'
The world No1, who went on to win in straight sets, had been serving at the south end of the stadium, close to where her team were seated in the players' box.
The chair umpire quickly radioed for assistance, making a mysterious snipping signal at her colleagues. Members of US Open staff then headed into the crowd in a bid to find the source of the smell.
