Remember that time a cap went missing at the US Open? Not just missing, but snatched right off the court. We’re talking about the moment a businessman became an internet sensation for all the wrong reasons. Now, Peter Szczerk, the Polish executive caught on camera taking a cap meant for a young fan, is finally speaking out. He’s calling his actions a “grave error.”
The incident happened at the US Open 2025. On Thursday, August 29, Polish tennis player Kamil Majchrzak, 29 years old, tossed a cap to a young boy. But before it could land in the child’s hands, Szczerk intervened, grabbing the souvenir. The video spread quickly, making Szczerk a familiar face online.
Szczerk shared his side of the story in a statement on his company’s Instagram account on Monday, September 1. He explained that he thought the cap was going to his own children. They had asked Majchrzak for autographs earlier. “Today I know I did something that looked like I deliberately took a souvenir from a child,” Szczerk wrote. “That wasn’t my intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that I hurt the child and disappointed the fans.”
Szczerk heads Drogbruk, a company that specializes in paving and landscaping solutions in Poland. He made it clear that the cap was returned to the child. “The cap was given to the child, and the family deserves an apology,” he added. “I hope I have at least partly repaired the damage.”
Before his official apology, a fake statement attributed to Szczerk made the rounds on Sunday, August 31. He was quick to shut down those rumors. “I also want to make it clear: neither I, nor my wife, nor my children commented on this situation on social media or any website,” he stated. “We did not use the services of any law firm regarding this. All alleged statements appearing online are not ours.”
Szczerk also shared that he and his wife have a history of supporting children and young athletes. But he understands that this one moment overshadowed years of good work. “This situation has shown me that a moment of distraction can undo years of work and support,” he said. “It’s a painful but necessary lesson in humility for me.” He plans to become even more active in initiatives that support young people and fight against violence and hatred. He believes that only through action can he rebuild lost trust. For privacy reasons, Szczerk has turned off comments on his Instagram post, citing concerns for his family.
Happily, the story for the young fan, named Brock, had a good ending. After the cap-snatching video went viral, tennis player Kamil Majchrzak reached out to the boy directly. “Today, after warming up, I had a nice meeting,” Majchrzak posted on his Instagram story on Saturday, August 29. He shared photos showing him and Brock meeting at the US Open facilities. Majchrzak gave Brock a brand new cap.
Majchrzak shared another photo of himself with Brock, writing, “Hello world, together with Brock, we wish you a great day.”