A top chief executive has been accused of snatching a child tennis fan’s hat at the US Open – with his firm now facing negative online reviews.

Viral video footage revealed the moments after Polish player Kamil Majchrzak went to the crowd after the biggest win of his career.

The 29-year-old defeated ninth seed Karen Khachanov in a marathon five-set thriller on Thursday – and then was filmed removing his cap and trying to hand it to a child in the crowd on Court 11.

But in ugly scenes, a man – named as Piotr Szczerek, a millionaire CEO – standing next to the boy reached out, grabbed the cap and stuffed it into his bag.

That left the youngster looking crestfallen and asking, ‘What are you doing?’ as Majchrzak walked away, unaware of what had just happened.

Now there has been a rising backlash against the hat grabber.

And there appeared online a lengthy statement in his defence, by someone purporting to be the businessman’s lawyer.

Yet that was later deleted, with the legal official telling people he had been misrepresented. 

The clip of the hat snatch has sparked fury online, with fans branding the unidentified man ‘selfish’ and ‘a jerk’ for stealing a moment that should have belonged to a child.

Majchrzak moved to put things right on Friday, taking to Instagram to appeal for help in finding the boy. 

‘After the match I didn’t record that my cap didn’t get to the boy,’ he wrote. ‘Thanks to @asicstennis I’ve got enough caps, so I’m prepared for that.

‘Hey guys, could you help me find the kid from my match. If it’s you (or your parents see this), please send me a DM.’

Just hours later, the Polish star confirmed the boy had been located. Sharing the same pictures of the incident on his story, he added: ‘I am impressed by the power of the internet. We got it! All good now.’ 

Now focus has turned to who seized the cap from the child in the first place, with many pointing the finger at an entrepreneur.

Comments online have included ‘What a pathetic thing to do’, ‘Imagine being grown and snatching from a kid’ and ‘

Another critic wrote: ‘That is called stealing property that doesn’t belong to you, and that is no man a coward, a bully, and a cheat taking from a child?? New low.’

And yet there appeared a supposed defence of the hat grabber’s actions, from someone posting on website Go Work claiming to be the CEO’s legal representative.

A lengthy post on LinkedIn, purporting to be by a Swedish legal firm’s partner, insisted that the filmed ‘actions were neither unlawful nor reprehensible’.

The online comment added: ‘On the contrary – they can be understood as an educational gesture and a form of teaching for a young person.

‘First of all, the cap was not of such value that one could speak of any “loss”.

‘It was an everyday item, which ultimately was handed over to the child. Thus, the child was not deprived of the item but received it.

‘Secondly, the very act of temporarily taking the cap and then giving it back can be interpreted as a lesson in respect for gifted items.

‘It was therefore not about “taking away”, but about highlighting the importance of looking after what one is given.

‘In this sense, the incident takes on the character of symbolic upbringing through experience – the child, instead of passively receiving an item, was engaged in a situation that taught greater awareness and gratitude.

‘For this reason, portraying the entire event in negative terms is not only incorrect but also unfair.’

The message claimed the man shown ‘did not commit a wrongful act; rather, he set an example that even small situations can be used as a teaching moment and as an opportunity to talk about how to take care of things that are given to us.’

The statement ended by declaring: ‘Let your outrage ring out as much as it wants. It makes no difference to us.

‘We set the rules of the game, because we have the means, the knowledge, and the position.’

A post on the quoted lawyer’s LinkedIn page later said: ‘In connection with the publicly appearing statements about the incident with the cap at the US Open, I would like to inform you: I do NOT have an account on GoWork, and the opinions published there under my name are NOT my opinions.

‘I have taken legal action to block this content.’ 

There have been negative responses online, including on the Go Work site in response to the now-deleted lengthy statement: ‘One of the worst companies, not worth wasting your money.’

The Daily Mail has approached those involved for comment. (Daily Mail)

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Roger Federer is among the first to grasp the significance of Rafael Nadal’s retirement from tennis, as the Spanish legend competes in the final tournament of his illustrious career.

Ahead of Nadal’s match at the 2024 Davis Cup in front of his home crowd in Málaga, Spain, on Tuesday, Federer penned a heartfelt tribute to the 22-time Grand Slam champion, celebrating the extraordinary relationship the two tennis legends have shared over the decades.

“As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional,” Federer took to Instagram, according to Sports Boston.

Full statement;

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22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has announced he will retire at the end of the 2024 season.

The 38-year-old Spaniard will compete in his final professional event at the Davis Cup Finals, to be held in Malaga from 19-24 November.

A 92-time tour-level champion who spent 209 weeks at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Nadal has been one of the leading lights on the ATP Tour since turning pro in 2001. 

He is a 22-time Grand Slam titlist, a tally which includes a record 14 crowns at Roland Garros. (ATP Tour)

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MAS Active, a renowned name in the apparel industry and a subsidiary of MAS Holdings has forged a significant partnership with the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA). The collaboration, formalized through an official agreement signed on 25th July 2023, designates MAS Active as the esteemed National Clothing Partner of SLTA. This strategic alliance is set to span an impressive duration of 3 years.

In this landmark agreement, MAS Active proudly commits to sponsor all national tennis teams representing Sri Lanka, comprising junior, senior, and wheelchair teams. The scope of this sponsorship encompasses the boys’ and girls’ teams competing in the 12&Under and 14&Under age categories, as well as the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup teams in the 16&Under age category. Additionally, MAS Active will also be the official clothing sponsor for the prestigious Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup teams, along with the men’s national wheelchair tennis team.

To commemorate this momentous occasion, the signing ceremony took place during a press conference held at the esteemed SLTA premises, located at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo on the 25th of July 2023. The event further accentuated the excitement and anticipation surrounding the upcoming Davis Cup, with an official dinner hosted in honor of the participants.

Mr. Iqbal Bin Issack, President of the Sri Lanka Tennis Association, expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to join hands with MAS Active as our National Clothing Partner. This partnership marks a new chapter for Sri Lankan tennis, and we are confident that with MAS Active’s unwavering support, our players will be equipped to compete at the highest level. Together, we aim to elevate the sport and nurture a legacy of tennis excellence in our nation.”

This collaboration between MAS Active and SLTA symbolizes a shared vision to advance and elevate the sport of tennis in Sri Lanka. By providing top-quality apparel and unwavering support to the country’s national tennis teams, this partnership is poised to inspire the players and contribute to the growth of tennis in the region.

Both organizations look forward to an exhilarating journey ahead as they work hand-in-hand to foster excellence in Sri Lankan tennis. Together, they aim to create a lasting impact and foster a generation of outstanding athletes who will proudly represent the nation on the global stage.

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