Anna Szczerek, wife of Polish millionaire Piotr Szczerek, is under public scrutiny after her husband was filmed at the 2025 US Open snatching a signed cap meant for a child and placing it in her bag.
The video went viral, sparking global outrage and bringing attention to both their business and private lives.
Following the incident, a statement attributed to Anna Szczerek surfaced online, defending the situation and mocking online critics, which was met with backlash and has since gone viral. However, the poster has admitted that the statement was a fabrication.
Newsweek has contacted Piotr Szczerek through his company’s email for comment.
Anna Szczerek pictured with her husband Piotr Szczerek (right).
Anna Szczerek pictured with her husband Piotr Szczerek (right).
Piotr Szczerek Facebook/Facebook
Why It Matters
The footage and subsequent backlash underscore how quickly corporate reputations can unravel in the digital era. When executives’ personal missteps surface publicly, they often become inseparably tied to their professional roles—undermining trust in the business and, in some cases, harming financial performance.
News outlets reported a swift wave of online criticism aimed at the Szczereks, accompanied by a noticeable decline in the company’s employer-review ratings after the clip spread.
Such incidents are far from isolated. In recent years, examples have ranged from Uber CEO Travis Kalanick’s 2017 confrontation with a driver over fare changes to the fallout surrounding Astronomer CEO Andy Byron’s widely publicized Coldplay “kiss cam” moment.
What To Know
During a match between Polish player Kamil Majchrzak and Russia’s Karen Khachanov, Majchrzak handed his signed cap to a young fan. Before the boy could receive it, Piotr Szczerek grabbed the souvenir and placed it in his wife’s bag, who was seen smiling and appeared focused on her phone.
The clip ignited fierce backlash, with Piotr identified online as the CEO of Drogbruk, a paving company he co-founded with Anna in 1999.
Majchrzak later confirmed that Piotr Szczerek was a sponsor of his tennis federation in Poland, as per the New York Post. He asked his social media followers for help in locating the boy from the video. In a follow-up Instagram story, the tennis player shared footage of meeting the young fan and giving him several gifts, including a hat similar to the one from the viral clip.
Following the incident, a post on X went viral claiming to be Anna Szczerek’s response, but the poster has since admitted it is fake.
The fabricated post said, alongside a picture of Anna: “You poor people, you shouldn’t really have access to the Internet – you can’t use this tool correctly. Unfortunately, Polish mental poverty together with straw in shoes gives the result that we all see. If we take into account the circumstances of this pseudo-scard, this kid simply got a pro bono life lesson. Let him be happy. Greetings.”
The post has had over 376,000 views and sparked interest online in the CEO’s wife.
Who Is Anna Szcerek?
Anna Szczerek, also known as Anna Mocna-Szczerek, is a Polish entrepreneur and philanthropist, active in arts and education initiatives. She founded Drogbruk in 1999 along with her husband, a company known for supporting sports programs and young athletes.
Beyond business, Anna is also an avid tennis player. She competes in the women’s league and in the 4th KTT league, where she and doubles partner Ewa Pawlak face male opponents.
In the Polish outlet Tenis Magazyn, she recalled first picking up the sport as a teenager in Canada, later introducing her husband to the game.
“I was 14 when my sister and I flew to Canada, and that’s where my tennis adventure began,” she said.
Her husband is now an amateur competitor, and the couple regularly plays mixed doubles together.
“We know we can’t have too many comments about each other on the court, because our personalities can make matches end too quickly,” she said in the article in Tenis Magazyn.
“Piotr has already surpassed me in tennis,” she said, “but we train just as hard because it brings us so much joy. Especially since we’ve managed to instill this passion in our children.”
The couple’s two sons, aged eight and six, are also pursuing tennis. “We’re happy with their tennis passion because the sport builds character and teaches order and consistency,” Anna said.
What People Are Saying
In the same interview, the couple highlighted their commitment to philanthropy: “People know we’re happy to help, not just in sports. Because if our business success gives us the opportunity, why not? It’s our inner need, but also a sincere belief in social responsibility in business, which we put into practice every day.”
Piotr Szczerek has apologized on Facebook, saying, in part: “For me this is a painful but necessary lesson in humility. That is why I will be even more actively involved in initiatives supporting children and youth and in efforts against violence and hate.
“I believe that only through actions can I regain the lost trust. Once again, I apologize to everyone I let down.”
What Happens Next
Since the incident, Anna has continued to keep a low profile on social media and has yet to comment. The US Open controversy continues to dominate social media, raising questions about how it might impact their couple’s company and reputation.