30 August 2025 , 20:38
783
0
US Open star Kamil Majchrzak eventually managed to get a souvenir cap to a young fan after seeing one ripped from his grasp. Majchrzak pulled off one of the shocks of the tournament so far as he beat number nine seed Karen Khachanov.
And in the aftermath, fans were keen to get a small souvenir. Many gathered around to get autographs and take pictures with the US Open’s latest breakout star.
One young fan in particular managed to get his ball signed and was handed Majchrzak’s cap. But before he could put it somewhere for safekeeping, a man alongside him ripped it from his hands and put it in his own bag.
The boy could be seen saying “what are you doing?” as he attempted to get the cap back. But his efforts were to no avail. The footage went viral shortly after, with many criticizing the man for his actions.
Taking to social media, one fan said: “Stealing from a child is completely disgusting,” while another responded: “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.”
The footage of the incident even found its way to Majchrzak, who responded on Instagram. He said: "After the match, I didn’t record that my cap didn’t get to the boy.
"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."
It appears that he managed to resolve the situation shortly after as he added: "I am impressed by the power of the Internet. We got it! All good now."
The situation has grown ever more bizarre in the days since. A Swedish legal firm’s partner, claiming to represent the man—highlighted on the internet as a CEO of a major company—something we’ve been unable to verify—penned a lengthy statement defending his actions.
It claimed that his “actions were neither unlawful nor reprehensible,” before reading: “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.”
But a post on the lawyer’s LinkedIn account suggested that the statement was not in fact shared by them and it has since been deleted.
World Affairs Correspondent