U.S. Open Incident: Polish CEO Sorry for Grabbing Majchrzak Hat From Young Fan

Polish CEO Apologizes for U.S. Open Hat Snatching Incident

The man who went viral after grabbing Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak’s hat from a child at the U.S. Open has publicly apologized, calling his actions a case of “extremely poor judgment.”

The Incident

Piotr Szczerek, CEO of the Polish paving company Drogbruk, said he thought Majchrzak was giving him the hat for his own sons when he reached for it at the same time as a young boy. After showing the hat to his children, Szczerek placed it in a bag — prompting the boy to ask in disbelief, “What are you doing?”

Video of the exchange quickly spread online, drawing criticism from tennis fans around the world.

The Apology

In a statement shared on social media, Szczerek said he regretted his actions:

“I want to sincerely apologize to the young boy, his family, the fans, and Kamil Majchrzak himself. It was never my intention to take a meaningful souvenir away from a child. I was caught up in the excitement of the moment. Regardless of what I believed, my actions hurt the boy and disappointed many others.”

Szczerek added that he had apologized directly to the child and his family and sent the hat to them.

Majchrzak Steps In

The incident happened after Majchrzak’s second-round victory over Russia’s Karen Khachanov. At the time, the player did not realize the hat had been intercepted but later turned to social media to track down the young fan. With help from his followers, Majchrzak connected with the boy, named Brock.

They met after a warm-up session on Saturday, where Majchrzak presented Brock with a new hat, a swag bag, and took photos together. On Instagram, Majchrzak shared the moment with the caption: “Hello World, Together with Brock we wish you a great day!”

Later that day, Majchrzak was forced to retire from his third-round match against Switzerland’s Leandro Riedi due to injury.

The Challenge for Players

The hat-snatching incident highlights the challenges players face when distributing gear to fans after matches. Crowds gather at the rails, and athletes, often exhausted, are left to choose among eager hands reaching out for souvenirs.

Iga Świątek, the U.S. Open’s No. 2 seed, acknowledged the difficulty, saying: “Sometimes seven people reach out for one thing. I usually pick randomly or go with whoever shouts the loudest. I know it’s not fair, but I can’t please everyone.”

Świątek added that while she understands adults want souvenirs, she finds it frustrating when they take items intended for children: “That’s not the point.”

Other Players’ Perspectives

Canadian star Felix Auger-Aliassime recalled a similar experience from his childhood. At 13, while trying to grab a wristband, he was struck in the face, leaving his nose bleeding. “I thought, ‘My God, I’m bleeding for a wristband. That’s crazy.’ After that, I let others fight for the sweaty stuff.”

For many players, the episode is a reminder of both the passion of fans and the delicate task of ensuring those moments are fair — especially when children are involved.