Piotr Szczerek, a Polish chief executive, was filmed taking a hat from a young boy during a recent US Open tennis match. After the incident garnered significant attention online, Szczerek acknowledged his actions as a “huge mistake,” expressing regret for any hurt caused to the child and the disappointment of fans.
Szczerek claimed that he believed tennis player Kamil Majchrzak was handing the hat to him. In a statement, he explained, “I know I did something that seemed like consciously collecting a memento from a child. This wasn’t my intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans.” The incident occurred during Majchrzak’s match against Karen Khachanov, where footage captured the moment he appeared to offer his cap to the child, only for Szczerek to take it.
Following the video’s viral spread and the ensuing backlash, Szczerek issued an apology to the boy and his family, as well as to Majchrzak and fans. He also returned the hat to the child, hoping to “at least partially repair the damage that was done.”
Majchrzak, who had just won his match, described the situation as a misunderstanding, noting his excitement and fatigue following the contest. He stated, “I was pointing, giving the hat, but I had a lot going on after my match… I’m sure the guy was also acting in the moment of heat, in the moment of emotions.”
Over the weekend, the tennis star met with the young fan, presenting him with a new cap and merchandise. Majchrzak, currently ranked 76th in the world, recently faced a setback, retiring from a match against Leandro Riedi due to a torn intercostal muscle.
Szczerek co-founded a paving company in 1999, which supports sporting events and local athletes. His family is also involved in tennis, participating in local leagues.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce93klk0jpzo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss