Piotr Szczerek, a millionaire CEO from Poland, has issued a public apology after a controversial incident at the US Open. The head of a paving company was filmed taking a cap from a young tennis fan, Brock, during a celebration by Polish player Kamil Majchrzak.

Majchrzak, ranked 76th in the world, achieved a significant victory by defeating Karen Khachanov in a thrilling five-set match. Following his win, he engaged with fans, signing tennis balls and handing his cap to Brock. However, Szczerek intervened, snatching the cap from the boy's hands.

The incident quickly went viral, prompting Szczerek to acknowledge his actions as a "huge mistake". In a statement on Facebook, he expressed regret, saying, "I would like to clearly apologise to the injured boy, his family, as well as all the fans and the player himself. I was convinced the tennis player tips his hat in my direction - to my sons who have asked for autographs earlier."

Szczerek continued, "The misconception caused me to pull out my hand. Today I know I did something that looked like a deliberate collection of the child's souvenir. This was not my intention, but it doesn't change the fact I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans."

He reflected on the impact of his actions, stating, "For years, my wife and I have been engaged in helping children and young athletes, but this situation has shown that one moment of disregard can ruin years of work and support. It hurts for me, but a needed lesson in humility."

Fortunately, Brock was able to meet Majchrzak the following day. The young fan was seen wearing a similar cap and took photos with the player. Majchrzak shared on Instagram, "Today after warm up, I had a nice meeting. Do you recognise [the cap]?" He also wished his followers a great day alongside Brock.

In a turn of events, Majchrzak was forced to retire from his third-round match against Switzerland's Leandro Riedi due to a torn intercostal muscle. The incident has sparked discussions about sportsmanship and the responsibilities of adults in the presence of young fans.