US Open titleholder Jannik Sinner faced an unusual situation after his win over Alexander Bublik on September 1. The Italian tennis player had just secured a decisive victory against Bublik, losing only three games with scores of 6-1, 6-1, 6-1, when he turned his attention to the enthusiastic crowd at Flushing Meadows.
Sinner, who might meet his rival Carlos Alcaraz in the final if things unfold as expected, took a moment to engage with the fans. He offered his towel to one spectator and posed for a selfie with another.
During this interaction, a fan on the court attempted to access Sinner’s racquet bag. The footage below captures the moment.
Fortunately, a vigilant security officer noticed the fan’s attempt and alerted Sinner to the situation. The fan, realizing he had been spotted, quickly withdrew his hands, and Sinner continued without showing any concern.
After the incident gained traction on social media, one user on X expressed indignation: “What a disgusting guy. Attempting open theft when Jannik was taking pics!” Another commented on the declining standards at the event, while a third noted the unusual occurrences at this year’s US Open.
This year’s US Open has been marked by unexpected incidents. Recently, Polish millionaire Piotr Szczerek drew negative attention by taking a signed cap from a young fan.
Szczerek addressed the incident on Facebook, expressing remorse: “In connection with the incident that occurred during Kamill Majchrzak’s match at the US Open, I would like to unequivocally apologize to the young boy, his family, all the fans, and the player himself.”
He admitted that his actions were a result of poor judgment and emphasized it was not his intention to take the memento from the young fan. Caught up in the excitement, he thought the cap was for his sons, who had asked for autographs.
Szczerek has since returned the cap, hoping to make amends: “I hope, at least to a small extent, I was able to repair the harm I caused.”
Kamill Majchrzak, who originally owned the cap, explained to The New York Post that a misunderstanding led to the incident. He mentioned being overwhelmed after his match and missing the intended recipient of the cap, attributing both his and Szczerek’s actions to the intensity of the moment.