There are the strongest players in the world, who make thousands of people stand up at every point. And then there is him, who goes on stage when the champions rest between sets and becomes the absolute star of the court. The Allianz Cloud idol is not only holding a racket, but also a squeegee. His name is Jose, he is 41 years old, comes from Madrid and sides for Atletico (“Soy cholista”) and his job here is “limpiacristales” (window cleaner in Spanish): a key part of the show. Because spotless glasses are needed to ensure perfect visibility of the game for both those in the stands and the ones watching tv, and then because a dirty glass or one with a halo of sweat left by a player can affect the point, and therefore the match, and therefore the tournament itself. Between sets, it’s Jose’s turn: Carletto DJ’s playlist starts, and he – the window cleaner freestyler – puts it all back together swiftly for you, making glass cleaning an art, following the music rhythm. “I’ve been working in padel for nine years, I started through a friend, and I really enjoy it,” he says. “As the discipline has evolved, the need to clean glasses faster and faster has grown, and so I do it this way and I’m glad that it’s appreciated by the audience.” The same audience that has elected him as idol: “But this has nothing to do with me, it’s just people seeing me this way.” However, Jose does not go around the world with a squeegee in his hand “I have another job in Madrid, still in the cleaning industry. I understand that window cleaning can be considered a “small” job, but it is a job like any other. What makes a job great is the approach and commitment with which it is done.” And there is nothing better than having fun while working: “I do it with great pleasure, and with the players there is a mutual respect. Among the most demanding ones, we find Garrido, who always wants the glass to be perfectly clean.” Clean yes, but only using water and not soap: “Because the effect of soap on the glass and on the game can be the same as the one caused by drops of sweat.” As José speaks, the first semifinal has just begun: the interview, then, ends here, it is now the turn of the padel champions, but also of José the limpiacristales.
José, the “limpiacristales” idol of Allianz Cloud: “Water, Cholismo and passion. That’s how I always keep the glasses clean”
