'Like Cryo Chamber': Djokovic Another Player Unhappy With Press Room At US Open

'Like Cryo Chamber': Djokovic Another Player Unhappy With Press Room At US Open

by Erik Virostko

Last updated

Novak Djokovic complained about the temperature in the press room after his second-round win at the 2023 US Open.

Sometimes, it's difficult to meet requirements of all parties interested, but when it comes to professional athletes, organizations should always try their best to meet players' expectations and requirements.

One of those instances is also certainly at the 2023 US Open, where players seem to struggle with often-discussed air conditioning, which is troubling them during their press conferences, as they have to be present in a room where they have no control over the temperature.

In the second round of the tournament, the 23-time Grand Slam champion defeated Spain's Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-4, 6-1, 6-1, and once he entered the press room, Djokovic couldn't even focus on the first question as the first thing he noticed was a very low temperature.

"Does it have to be so cold here? Wow. It's like cryo chamber. Sorry, you were asking?"

Sometimes, it can be purely a preference of an individual, but that wasn't the case this time around. Djokovic's colleague from the ATP Tour, Stefanos Tsitsipas, had a similar experience in the press room.

The Greek player lost to Dominic Stricker from Switzerland 5-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-7, 3-6, but in his case, the affects of the room's temperature seemed to be even more serious, as Tsitsipas coughed during his press conference, saying something very similar to Djokovic.

"I think it's the air conditioning in here. It's the transition of temperatures. I was playing in a hot center court a few minutes ago, and it's freezing cold in here. I tend to cough sometimes when that happens."

It's very interesting that the tournament organizers can't satisfy player's needs in terms of the room temperature, as it can trouble their progress at the event, which is in the end their product that they are selling to fans.

It wouldn't be the first withdrawal because of a sickness, as Elena Rybakina has been one of the players who talked about air conditioning and its negative effects on players, especially when it's a big change in temperatures after the match.

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