The US Open is supposed to be a celebration of tennis at its highest level — a place where fans can connect with their heroes and children leave with memories that last a lifetime. But this week, the biggest story from Flushing Meadows wasn’t a match, but a viral scandal involving a Polish millionaire, an autograph gone wrong, and a devastated young fan.
The man at the center of the storm has been identified as Piotr Szczerek, CEO of the Polish paving company Drogbruk. He was filmed snatching a cap autographed by Kamil Majchrzak, Poland’s own rising tennis star, directly from the hands of a boy named Brock during a post-match autograph session.
The shocking grab happened Thursday night after Majchrzak’s upset win over ninth seed Karen Khachanov. While celebrating, Majchrzak attempted to toss his hat to a child courtside. Instead, the hat was intercepted by Szczerek, who swiftly placed it into his wife’s bag — ignoring the protests of the boy it was meant for. Within hours, the footage had gone viral, sparking outrage across social media.
A Star Caught Off Guard
Speaking to The Post on Saturday, Majchrzak admitted he was initially unaware of the controversy.
“Obviously it was some kind of confusion,” he explained. “I was pointing, giving the hat, but I had a lot going on after my match, after being super tired and super excited for the win. I just missed it. I had like a dead look, if you know what I mean. I’m sure the guy was also acting in the moment of heat, in the moment of emotions.”
But while Majchrzak downplayed the confrontation, fans online were merciless.
From Courtside to Internet Courtroom
By Friday morning, Szczerek had been “doxxed” by online sleuths and identified as the CEO of Drogbruk, a paving firm he co-founded with his wife Anna in 1999. He quickly deactivated his social media profiles as furious comments poured in, not just from tennis fans worldwide but from his own countrymen.
On the Polish job search site Gowork.pl, users labeled him a “sack of garbage,” “primitive scammer,” and “shameful jerk.” One commenter fumed: “Only an ordinary idiot and a jerk could snatch a hat from a child’s hands.” Another wrote simply: “You can’t buy class.”
Some even suggested his business could suffer from the fallout: “If the company’s president so unscrupulously stole a child’s hat, if I were a customer, I would no longer use his services. I’d be afraid he’d steal from me too.”
The reputational damage was swift — a stark contrast to Szczerek’s carefully cultivated image as a businessman, sports patron, and family man.
The Businessman Behind the Backlash
In Poland, Szczerek is well known in both business and tennis circles. Drogbruk, the company he runs with his wife, has become a leader in the paving industry, sponsoring local sports programs and athletes, including Polish doubles specialist Piotr Matuszewski.
Tennis is also a family passion. The Szcereks boast a private court at their home in Kalisz, where they once hosted Polish star Urszula Radwanska as part of a birthday surprise. Both Piotr and Anna compete in amateur tournaments, with Piotr rising to the second division of the Kalisz Tennis Association.
Yet none of that pedigree shielded him from the storm unleashed by a single, ill-judged grab.
Making Amends — and Making Things Right
Majchrzak revealed that Szczerek had reached out privately in an effort to apologize. “He also wanted to make things right, so I gave him the credentials for Brock’s mom on the same social media I was using to contact her,” the tennis star said.
But it was Majchrzak himself who turned the story around. Using what he called “the power of the internet,” he managed to track down Brock and his family. On Saturday, he posted a video of a joyful reunion in which he presented the boy with a fresh autographed hat, along with other keepsakes.
In the clip, Brock beams as he tries on the cap, proudly showing it off to his mother. Majchrzak kneels beside him for photos, smiling as if to underline that the boy’s loyalty and excitement mattered more than the controversy.
“Today after warm up I had a nice meeting,” Majchrzak wrote in the caption, adding a hat emoji. “Do you recognize?”
He later posted a smiling photo of himself and Brock, writing: “Hello World, Together with Brock we wish you a great day!”
A Viral Scandal With a Happy Ending
What began as an ugly episode — a wealthy adult appearing to rip a child’s dream away in front of millions — ended with a reminder of why sports matter in the first place. Brock not only received the keepsake he had hoped for but also got to spend time with his hero.
As for Szczerek, questions remain about whether his reputation can recover from what some have dubbed the “US Open Hat Snatch.” His silence, coupled with the backlash, has left his next move uncertain.
Yet for Majchrzak, the incident offered an unexpected chance to display grace and generosity. In a tournament defined by fierce competition, it was a moment of human connection that stole the spotlight.
In the end, the true winner wasn’t found on the court but in the stands — a young fan whose wide smile said more than any viral clip ever could.
