The US Open, usually a place for tennis glory, recently saw a different kind of drama unfold. A video circulating online seems to show a wealthy CEO, Piotr Szczerek, snatching a souvenir hat from a young fan. It’s the kind of moment that makes you scratch your head and wonder, "What just happened?"
The incident took place after Polish tennis star Kamil Majchrzak’s second-round match on Friday, August 29. As players often do, Majchrzak was signing autographs and took off his cap, ready to give it to a waiting child in the stands. This was meant to be a special moment, a keepsake from a memorable day at the tournament.
But before the young fan could grab the prize, a man stepped in. This man, later identified by the New York Post as Piotr Szczerek, the CEO of Drogbruk, a Polish landscaping company, boldly took the hat right from Majchrzak’s hands. It was a swift move that left everyone, especially the child, quite stunned.
You could see the disappointment all over the boy’s face. He reached out, clearly trying to get the hat back, but it was no use. The man was determined to keep it. He checked out the inside of the cap, then tucked it away into a friend’s bag. The boy kept protesting, but the man just ignored him. His friend, meanwhile, was seen smiling at Majchrzak, 29, with the hat safely out of reach. Reports indicate that Us Weekly reached out to a representative for Szczerek for comment on the incident.
The New York Post was quick to identify the mystery man on Friday, August 30. They reported that Majchrzak, who had just beaten Russian pro Karen Khachanov in the match, confirmed Szczerek had taken his cap. Majchrzak described the whole thing as "a kind of confusion." He explained that he was pointing and handing over the hat but missed the exact moment it was snatched. He added, "I had a lost look, you know what I mean? I’m sure the guy also acted in a moment of heat, of emotions."
It turns out there’s a connection between the two men. Majchrzak mentioned to the New York Post that Szczerek actually sponsors his tennis federation back in Poland. This detail added another layer to the already strange situation.
After the video hit Instagram on Sunday, August 31, a statement supposedly from Szczerek went viral. The statement’s accuracy hasn’t been confirmed, but it claimed the incident caused "a disproportionate fuss." It went on to say, "Everything is for the famous hat, of course. Yes, I took it. Yes, I did it fast. But as I have always said, in life it is first come, first served." The statement ended with a clear message: "Let’s not make the hat a global scandal. It’s just a hat. If you were faster, you would have it."