The man who was caught on camera snatching a hat off a young boy at the US Open has said he made a 'huge mistake' after footage of the incident went viral.
Piotr Szczerek, a Polish chief executive of a paving firm, stated he was 'convinced' tennis star Kamil Majchrzak had been 'passing his hat in my direction'.
'I know I did something that seemed like consciously collecting a memento from a child,' he wrote in a statement. 'This wasn't my intention, but it doesn't change the fact that I hurt the boy and disappointed the fans.'
The video, taken during Majchrzak's match, showed the tennis player offering his cap to a child, before Mr Szczerek appears to take it.
Versions of the clip were widely circulated on social media, leading to criticism of Mr Szczerek's actions.
The 50-year-old apologized on social media, expressing his regret to the boy, his family, and to all fans and the player himself.
He mentioned that he returned the hat to the boy, hoping it would 'at least partially repair the damage that was done'.
Majchrzak, who had just won his match against Karen Khachanov, commented that he believed he 'did what most athletes would do in this situation' and wished the boy's family a wonderful day.
He also indicated that he felt there might have been some confusion during the event, stating, 'I was pointing, giving the hat, but I had a lot going on after my match.'
The tennis star later reunited with the boy, sharing clips of their interaction on Instagram, where he gave him a new cap and some merchandise.
Mr Szczerek, who founded his paving company Drogbruk with his wife in 1999, is also known for sponsoring Polish athletes and sporting events.
