Polish exec apologizes after grabbing autographed hat at U.S. Open

A viral video from late August at the U.S. Open showed a man grabbing an autographed hat that Polish player Kamil Majchrzak appeared to be handing to a young fan, touching off global outrage and forcing the man identified as Polish businessman Piotr Szczerek to apologize. Majchrzak, who had just upset ninth seed Karen Khachanov in a five set match, later located the boy, identified as Brock, and gave him a signed replacement hat and other memorabilia after the clip circulated online.

Footage from the stands on Aug. 28 or 29 captured Majchrzak signing items and removing his cap to hand it to a child. Before the boy could take it, a man beside him reached in, took the hat and put it into a companion's bag as the child protested. Majchrzak told reporters he had been distracted in the chaos after his victory and initially missed what had happened. "I was pointing, giving the hat, but I had a lot going on after my match," he said, calling the episode "some kind of confusion."

Internet users quickly identified the man as Piotr Szczerek, chief executive of Polish paving company Drogbruk, and the clip prompted swift and fierce condemnation online. Social media users flooded company...