As London swelters under a record-breaking heatwave ahead of Wimbledon, defending champion Jannik Sinner has turned to an unusual but increasingly common aid: a cooling vest. The world No.1 was spotted wearing the ice vest during practice sessions at the All England Club as temperatures climbed into the mid-30s Celsius, part of a strategy to prevent overheating and manage the physical demands of competing in extreme conditions.
The precaution comes just weeks after Sinner endured one of the most painful moments of his season at the French Open. The Italian suffered a heat-related physical meltdown during his shock defeat at Roland Garros, struggling with illness and fatigue in soaring temperatures. The episode prompted Sinner and his team to conduct medical testing and make adjustments to his preparation, including the use of cooling equipment to help regulate body temperature.
HEATWAVE LEADS TO POWER OUTAGE
The heat has not only affected players but also Wimbledon’s operations. On Wednesday, qualifying matches at Roehampton were suspended for more than an hour after a power outage disrupted the tournament’s electronic line-calling system, commonly known as Hawk-Eye. Organisers said the failure occurred during exceptionally hot weather, with temperatures reaching 33-36°C across London.
Players have not hidden their frustration with the conditions. German player Eva Lys summed up the mood on social media, posting: “This heatwave makes professional tennis feel like a questionable life decision.” Her remark quickly resonated with fans as players battled scorching courts and relentless sunshine during the build-up to the season’s third Grand Slam.
With Wimbledon set to begin amid the lingering heatwave, managing temperatures could prove almost as important as managing opponents.
WHAT’S A COOLING VEST?
Cooling vests have become an increasingly popular tool in professional sport, particularly during competitions and training sessions held in hot weather. Designed to regulate body temperature, these vests help athletes stay cool and reduce the risk of overheating and heat-related illnesses.
Typically made from lightweight compression-style fabric, cooling vests contain ice packs or phase-change cooling inserts placed inside insulated compartments. Athletes often wear them before training or competition in a process known as “pre-cooling,” which lowers the body’s core temperature and improves its ability to cope with rising heat during physical activity.
Research has shown that cooling vests can delay overheating, reduce thermal strain and improve comfort in hot conditions. By helping athletes feel less fatigued, they may also contribute to better endurance, concentration and overall performance. As a result, cooling vests are now commonly used in sports such as tennis, athletics, cycling and other endurance events.
The use of cooling aids is not unusual among elite athletes. Ice towels, ice slurries and cold-water immersion baths are also widely used to manage body temperature before and after competition.
For Sinner, the cooling vest is a preventive measure rather than an injury-management device. After suffering heat-related issues at Roland Garros, he has incorporated the vest into his Wimbledon preparations as London experiences unusually high temperatures.
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