A businessman who snatched a cap being given to a young fan by tennis player Kamil Majchrzak at the US Open has offered a « sincere apology » for his actions and said he has returned it.
Piotr Szczerek said he believed Majchrzak was handing the cap to him, and it had caused him to « instinctively reach out ».
Footage circulating online showed 29-year-old Polish player Majchrzak signing autographs for fans at Flushing Meadows in New York after beating Russia’s Karen Khachanov last Thursday.
But as he gave his cap to a boy, it was snatched by Szczerek.
Majchrzak later tracked down the boy and presented him with a new cap and a goodie bag.
After a backlash on social media, Szczerek, who is reported to be the head of a Polish paving firm, wrote on Instagram: « Due to the situation that occurred during Kamil Majchrzak’s match at the US Open, I would like to offer my sincere apology to the injured boy, his family, all the fans, and the player himself.
« In the midst of the excitement and celebration after my victory, I believed the tennis player was handing his cap to me – for my sons, who had previously asked for autographs.
« This mistaken belief caused me to instinctively reach out.
« Today, I know I did something that seemed like deliberately taking a souvenir from a child. It wasn’t my intention, but that doesn’t change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans. »
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He added that he and his wife helped children and young athletes, but admitted the incident at the US Open had been « a painful but necessary lesson in humility ».
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