- - CEO Speaks Out After He Seemingly Stole Autographed Hat from Young Child at US Open: 'Made a Huge Mistake'

Rachel RaposasSeptember 2, 2025 at 1:12 AM

Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek at the US Open. -

Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek apologized after he was filmed appearing to snatch an autographed hat from a young boy at the US Open

In a statement posted to social media on Sept. 1, he called the incident a "needed lesson in humility"

The player who autographed the hat, Kamil Majchrzak, later met with the boy and posed for a photo with him

After facing intense backlash online for snatching an autographed hat from a child at the US Open, Polish CEO Piotr Szczerek is offering an apology.

Szczerek, who runs the paving company Drogbruk, was nearby as Polish tennis star Kamil Majchrzak signed a cap for a young boy on Thursday, Aug. 28, as seen in now-viral footage from the competition.

When Majchrzak began to hand the hat to the child, Szczerek quickly grabbed it and, despite the child's protests, tucked it away into a bag.

Now, in a statement posted to social media on Monday, Sept. 1, Szczerek apologized to the boy and said he thought the autographed item was for his own children, per the BBC.

"I would like to unequivocally apologize to the injured boy, his family, as well as all the fans and the player himself. I have made a huge mistake," he wrote in a post translated to English. "Emotionally, in the crowd cheering after the victory, I was convinced that the tennis player was passing his hat in my direction - for my sons who had asked for autographs earlier.

"I know I did something that seemed like consciously collecting a memento from a child. This wasn't my intention, but it doesn't change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans," Szczerek continued. "The hat was given to the boy, and apologies to the family. I hope I've at least partially repaired the damage that was done."

Szczerek, who said the incident was "a needed lesson in humility," also claimed he and his family had not issued any statements or comments about the viral moment prior to his Monday post, where he disabled comments "for my family's sake."

Not long after the Thursday match, Majchrzak met with the young boy, Brock, and posed with him for photos he later posted to his Instagram Story, according to the New York Post.

In the original video taken after his winning match, Majchrzak didn't appear to notice Szczerek taking the hat from the boy and continued to sign items from other fans. He later told the Post he chalked it up to "some kind of confusion."

Sarah Stier/Getty

Kamil Majchrzak.

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“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 said. "I just missed it. I had like a dead look, if you know what I mean. I’m sure the guy was also acting in the moment of heat, in the moment of emotions.”

Majchrzak ultimately bowed out of the competition on Saturday, Aug. 30, citing an injury — one of seven competitors at the US Open to do so.

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Source: “AOL AOL Sports”