There are the big world stars, those who draw in the crowd and thrill them with talent and unbelievable shots. And then there’s the unexpected protagonist, the one who steps in quietly and, in just a few days, becomes another idol to cheer for. At the motorola razr Miami Premier Padel P1, this happened to José the “limpiacristales,” the glass cleaner at the courts of the Miami Beach Convention Center, who since the beginning of the week has become one of the most beloved figures. A 44-year-old Spaniard from Madrid, José travels with the Qatar Airways Premier Padel Tour for most of the 24 annual stops, but he continues to work as a “regular” glass cleaner in Spain, where he lives with his wife, daughter Lucia, and son Alvaro.
“I started my journey with padel 10 years ago, through the company I work for,” he says. “It was a different world back then; the glass was cleaned only once a day. But with the growth of photographers and live broadcast cameras, it became necessary to clean the glass more often, and we had to do it very quickly because there was very little time. It’s a crucial step for the players too, because dirty glass or sweat can affect the point and the match.”
And that’s how his unmistakable style was born: accompanied by the DJ’s music, José creates a super-fast dance, a sort of padel-style hip hop, and inevitably leaves the court to the sound of the crowd’s applause. The crowd then intercepts him during breaks between matches when José moves around the courts for a short rest. Like one of the players, he is often stopped for a selfie and a handshake.
“It happened for the first time five or six years ago. I’d enter the court like always, and at the end, I’d hear the applause, but I thought it was for the players. Then I found out it was for me, and I realized something important had happened. This is also a sign that padel is growing and becoming more popular.”
Speaking of show and great players, José mentions his favorites: “Galan, both as a person and a player. Then Di Nenno, a great guy and a real fighter. But everyone is always very kind to me.”
But it’s not all show, because being the “limpiacristales” for such an important circuit requires a lot of attention: “There’s a big difference between indoor and outdoor tournaments, the conditions change completely. For example, the humidity outdoors, or the temperature and air quality indoors. These are factors that affect the glass and, therefore, the ball, so we have to be careful.”
One constant, though: “Never clean with water and soap; chemicals can affect the glass. It’s always cleaned with water,” he concludes, while finishing getting everything ready for Saturday’s semifinals, where once again, he’ll be a key figure for the show on the courts.