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, said 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 on Thursday, showed the tennis player offering his cap to a child, before Mr Szczerek appears to take it.
Versions of the clip were shared widely on social media and prompted criticism of Mr Szczerek's actions.
