![\"Piotr](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\/85e7377d-c010-4f7d-b7f7-c10835d389f2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nNot since Boris Johnson steamrollered a ten-year-old boy on a Japanese rugby pitch has an adult\u2019s churlish disregard of a child\u2019s feelings so mesmerised the internet.<\/p>\n
A millionaire Polish businessman apologised yesterday for making a \u00ad\u201cserious mistake\u201d after grabbing a \u00adtennis player\u2019s cap from a small boy at the US Open, in a snatch that launched a thousand memes.<\/p>\n
The footage of Piotr Szczerek, the owner of a paving company, swiftly went viral around the world and the story has been viewed more than a \u00adbillion times across various social \u00admedia platforms, according to Res \u00adFutura, a Polish firm specialising in the analysis of online discourse.<\/p>\n
Szczerek swooped on the souvenir after Kamil Majchrzak, the Polish world No 76, beat the Russian Karen Khachanov in the second round in five sets. <\/p>\n
As he was giving autographs afterwards, Majchrzak removed his cap and gestured towards a boy in the crowd. The boy, identified only as Brock, appeared delighted, but was then \u00adincensed after Szczerek wrested the hat from his hand and slotted it into his wife\u2019s tote bag. <\/p>\n
The clip was circulated by international broadcasters and quickly gained millions of views. On X, Facebook, Reddit and Polish job forums, users expressed their outrage. <\/p>\n
As internet sleuths pointed to Szczerek as the probable culprit, thousands of negative reviews were posted on the Google page for his firm, Drogbruk, and its rating fell to 1.3 stars out of five. Szczerek was rapidly labelled the \u201cmost hated man on the internet\u201d.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Szczerek, chief executive of Drogbruk, right, with his wife who was also at the tennis match<\/p>\n
The Res Futura analysis showed that 98.2 per cent of the \u00adonline comments had been critical, with some suggesting that Szczerek\u2019s behaviour had reinforced negative stereotypes of Poles. More than 40 per cent of comments demanded a public apology.<\/p>\n
On Monday the businessman broke cover, declaring in a statement that he had learnt a \u201cpainful but necessary lesson in humility\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said he wanted to \u201cunequivocally apologise to the boy concerned, his family, as well as to all the fans and to the player himself\u201d adding that he had since returned the cap. <\/p>\n
\u201cI made a serious mistake,\u201d Szczerek wrote. \u201cIn the emotions of the moment, in the joy of the crowd after the victory, I was convinced that the tennis player was handing the cap in my direction \u2014 for my sons, who had earlier asked for autographs. This mistaken belief caused me to reach out reflexively.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cToday I know that I did something which appeared to be deliberately taking a souvenir away from a child. That was not my intention, but this does not change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cap has been handed over to the boy, and apologies have been made to the family. I hope that at least in part I have repaired the harm caused.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\/0ce54a3a-cd7d-442f-8687-02d5ed6258f3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Szczerek\u2019s wife, Anna, an amateur player, hosting the retired Urszula Radwanska, left<\/p>\n
Szczerek and his wife are amateur tennis players who compete in local \u00adleagues, 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. <\/p>\n
Drogbruk has also sponsored the Polish tennis association.<\/p>\n
The backlash has been so fierce that the couple have deactivated their social media accounts.<\/p>\n
Szczerek said that fake statements about the incident purporting to have come from him and his family had been widely circulated on social media. \u201cAll alleged statements appearing online are not authored by us,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
He added: \u201cFor years, together with my wife, I have been engaged in helping children and young athletes, but this situation has shown me that a single moment of inattention can undo years of work and support \u2026 I believe that \u00adonly through deeds can I rebuild the trust that has been lost. Once again, I apologise to all those I have let down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Majchrzak, 29, said he had been too distracted to notice the incident at the time. However, he later traced the disappointed boy, met him, gave him another signed cap and posed for \u00adphotographs with him.<\/p>\n
![\"Kamil](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\/399387fc-2f39-4f25-ab17-7f42be28b391.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Kamil Majchrzak, left, was unaware at the time that Brock, right, had the cap taken from him, and responded by giving him a goody bag<\/p>\n
The player also revealed that he had provided the contact details for Brock\u2019s mother to Szczerek so that he could make amends.<\/p>\n
Majchrzak said: \u201cI believe I acted as most athletes in my position would have done. I hope that Brock and his family had a wonderful day full of experiences and impressions at the US Open.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caught on camera:<\/p>\n