CEO who snatched tennis player's hat from young boy says he made 'huge mistake'

A Polish millionaire who went viral after he was filmed taking a player’s hat intended for a young boy at the US Open has issued an apology.

The clip saw Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak offering his hat to an eagerly awaiting boy before Piotr Szczerek took it out of Majchrzak’s hand.

Majchrzak, who was signing autographs at the time, did not notice the exchange, but the boy was visibly upset that he did not get the hat.

The clip quickly went viral with people criticising Szczerek, the CEO of Polish paving company Drogbruk, for his behaviour towards the child.

On his company’s Instagram account, Szczerek said in Polish he had made a “huge mistake.”

He said: “Due to the situation that happened during Kamil Majchrzak’s match at the US Open, I would like to unequivocally apologise to the injured boy, his family, all the fans, and the player himself.”

He added: “In the midst of emotion, amidst the crowd’s celebration after the victory, I was convinced that the tennis player was passing the cap to me – for my sons, who had previously asked for autographs. This mistaken belief caused me to instinctively reach out.

“Today, I know that I did something that looked like I deliberately took a souvenir from a child.

“It wasn’t my intention, but that doesn’t change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans.”

In the post, he confirmed he had given the hat back to the boy.

He also made clear this was his only comment on the incident, and that neither he nor his family had said anything else on social media. Any other statement made online was fake, he said.

Szczerek added: “For years, my wife and I have been involved in helping children and young athletes, but this situation has shown me that one moment of disregard can undo years of work and support. This is a painful but necessary lesson in humility for me.

“Therefore, I will be even more actively involved in initiatives supporting children and young people and in actions against violence and hate. I believe that only through actions can I rebuild lost trust.”

After Majchrzak saw the clip, he posted on Instagram asking people to help him get in touch with the young boy. He later shared an image with the child, who he identified as Brock, wearing the cap.

“Hello World, together with Brock we wish you a great day!” the tennis player’s caption said.

Majchrzak, 29, is ranked 76th in the world in men’s singles.

He was forced to retire from his match against Switzerland’s Leandro Riedi on Saturday due to a torn intercostal muscle.