A millionaire Polish businessman is facing a global backlash after being identified as the tennis fan who snatched a player’s cap from a child at the US Open.
Video of Piotr Szczerek, the head of paving company called Drogbruk, grabbing the souvenir from the hands of a youngster went viral.
The incident occurred after Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak defeated Russia’s Karen Khachanov in the second round in New York in a five-set thriller. While giving autographs after his victory, Majchrzak removed his cap and gestured towards a boy in the crowd.
Piotr Szczerek, chief executive of Drogbruk, right, with his wife who was also at the tennis match
But a man, now identified as Szczerek, reached over and took the souvenir, which he promptly placed in his wife’s bag as the child protested.
The clip was circulated by broadcasters, including Eurosport and quickly gained millions of views. On Twitter, Facebook, Reddit and Polish jobs forums, users denounced the act. “It’s disgusting to steal a child’s souvenir,” one Reddit comment read.
Szczerek was also dubbed the “most hated man on the internet”.
Szczerek and his wife are amateur tennis players who compete in local leagues, training with their two sons on a private court in their hometown of Kalisz, central Poland. They have hosted Urszula Radwanska, the retired professional, and have been involved in sponsoring young Polish players through an initiative with their company. Drogbruk has also sponsored the Polish Tennis Association.
The backlash has been so fierce, the couple have deactivated their social media accounts.
Kamil Majchrzak, left, was unaware at the time that Brock, right, had the cap taken from him, so he responded by giving him a goody bag
Anita Kucharska-Dziedzic, a Polish left-wing MP, wrote on X: “Undoubtedly the most recognisable Polish businessman in the world. Billions reached in one day. Polish entrepreneurs will be making up for image losses for years. Unfortunately.”
Polish media initially avoided naming him; laws are strict on commentary about private individuals, though the video’s rapid circulation has largely negated that protection.
Majchrzak, 29, ranked in the top 100, said he had been too distracted to notice the incident at the time. However, he later traced the boy, identified only as Brock, met with him and gave him another signed cap and posed for photographs. The player also revealed that he had provided Brock’s mother’s contact details to Szczerek so he could make amends.
Neither Szczerek nor his company have commented.