Why did Jannik Sinner wear a cooling vest in training before Wimbledon

With London reeling in record-breaking heat ahead of Wimbledon, defending champion Jannik Sinner opted for an unusual but increasingly common piece of equipment: a cooling vest. The world number one was spotted wearing an ice vest during training sessions at the All England Club as temperatures soared into the mid-30s, part of a strategy to prevent overheating and cope with the physical demands of competing in extreme conditions.

The move comes just weeks after Sinner suffered one of the most painful moments of his season at the French Open. The Italian suffered a physical breakdown caused by the heat in his shocking defeat at Roland Garrosbattling illness and fatigue in the sweltering temperatures. The episode prompted Sinner and his team to perform medical tests and make adjustments to his preparation, including the use of a cooling device to help regulate his body temperature.

HEAT WAVE LEADS TO POWER OUTAGE

The heat did not only affect the players, but also the operation of Wimbledon. Qualifiers in Roehampton were interrupted for more than an hour on Wednesday after a power cut disrupted the tournament’s electronic telephoning system, commonly known as Hawk-Eye. Organizers said the failure occurred during extremely hot weather, with temperatures in London reaching 33-36C.

The players did not hide their frustration with the conditions. German player Eva Lys summed up the mood on social media, writing: “These heat waves make professional tennis a questionable life decision.” Her remark quickly resonated with fans as players battled scorching courts and relentless sunshine as they prepared for the season’s third Grand Slam. Courtesy: Eva Lys Instagram

With Wimbledon kicking off amid a lingering heat wave, managing the temperatures may be almost as important as managing the opponents.

WHAT IS A COOLING VEST?

Cooling vests are becoming an increasingly popular tool in professional sports, especially during competitions and training sessions held in hot weather. These vests are designed to regulate body temperature, helping athletes stay cool and reducing the risk of overheating and heat-related illness.

Cooling vests are usually made of lightweight compression fabric and contain ice packs or phase-change cooling pads placed inside insulated compartments. Athletes often wear them before a workout or race 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 heat stress and improve comfort in hot conditions. By helping athletes feel less tired, they can also contribute to better endurance, concentration and overall performance. Because of this, today, cooling vests are 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 packs, and cold water baths are also widely used to regulate body temperature before and after competition.

For Sinner, the cooling vest is more of a preventative measure than an injury management tool. After suffering heat-related problems at Roland Garros, he has incorporated the vest into his preparations for Wimbledon as London experiences unusually high temperatures.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

25 June 2026 16:00 IST