The US Open is known for unforgettable tennis moments, but one recent incident off the court stole the spotlight.
What began as a victory celebration turned into a viral controversy that left fans around the world outraged.
During Polish player Kamil Majchrzak’s dramatic five-set win, cameras caught a man pulling a signed cap straight from the hands of a young boy named Brock.
The clip quickly spread across social media, with users calling it “disgusting” and “bullying.”
For days, questions swirled about the man’s identity and his intentions.
Tennis fans and commentators demanded answers as the video continued to rack up millions of views online.
Majchrzak himself stepped in to ease tensions.
“It was a very nice meeting,” the player said after tracking down Brock and his family. “I wanted to meet the boy and just try to make things right for him.”
He explained that he hadn’t realized the confusion in the moment.
“I was pointing, giving the hat, but I had a lot going on after my match, after being super tired and super excited for the win,” Majchrzak told reporters.
The man in question was later identified as Polish business executive Piotr Szczerek, the CEO of paving company Drogbruk.
Soon after, the company’s online profiles were bombarded with negative reviews, and Trustpilot even shut down its page “due to media attention.”
Under growing pressure, Szczerek finally broke his silence.
“Due to the situation that happened during Kamil Majchrzak’s match at the US Open, I would like to clearly apologize to the injured boy, his family, as well as all the fans and the player himself,” he wrote:
“I have made a huge mistake.”
He claimed he believed the hat was being directed toward his own sons who had asked for autographs earlier.
“In the emotions of the crowd rejoicing after the victory, I was convinced the tennis player tipped his hat in my direction,” he explained. “Today I know I did something that looked like a deliberate collection of the child’s souvenir.”
Szczerek confirmed that the hat was returned to Brock and acknowledged the damage caused to his reputation.
“For years, my wife and I have been engaged in helping children and young athletes, but this situation has shown that one moment of disregard can ruin years of work and support,” he admitted.
He ended with a plea for understanding.
“Again, I’m sorry to anyone I disappointed. Please understand, for my family’s sake, I decided to turn off the option for comments on this post.”
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