Daniil Medvedev bemoans North American reliance on air conditioning after US Open exit

WATCH: Medvedev-Kyrgios was expected to be a blockbuster fourth-round at the US Open after their meeting last month in Montréal.

NEW YORK—A summer without air conditioning is unimaginable for most New Yorkers. After picking up a scratchy throat ahead of his fourth-round US Open encounter with Nick Kyrgios, Daniil Medvedev wishes you’d open a window.

“The thing is in USA I get sick once time for sure in the swing because the AC is just crazy,” the top seed exclaimed after incurring a 7-6 (11), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 defeat to end his Flushing Meadows title defense. “Last year it happened in Cincinnati, so that was a good thing because, I mean, usually you don't get sick two times in two-three weeks.”

Medvedev was in remarkably good spirits despite coming to press less than 30 minutes after the two-hour, 53-minute defeat, colorfully outlining a familiar European grievance of how this unrelenting cooling appliance aided in his Sunday night downfall.

“I mean, the thing is that in the lounge or somewhere I can cover myself. But even in the locker room, I don't know in Fahrenheit, but probably like 68 degrees or something. You go shower, you sweat, then you come out. If you get little bit relaxed for few minutes, like after the match you sit there five minutes, you can get sick!”

While Medvedev wouldn’t be the first to quite literally catch cold, the resulting fatigue likely proved the difference against an on-fire Kyrgios after an opening set and thrilling tiebreaker.

Look, I'm trying to look good here, but I'm disappointed. Not going to cry in the room, but I'm a little bit disappointed. For few days I'm going to be just a little bit sad, looking at my phone, my laptop or watching some series. Daniil Medvedev

“It's not an excuse at all,” he clarified, “because Nick played good. When he beat me in Montréal, I was not sick.”

Told he would lose the No. 1 ranking to one of Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, or Casper Ruud, Medvedev flashed another wry smile.

“Look, I'm trying to look good here, but I'm disappointed. Not going to cry in the room, but I'm a little bit disappointed. For few days I'm going to be just a little bit sad, looking at my phone, my laptop or watching some series.

“But that's motivation, try to do better. Obviously, it was the last Slam of the year. Didn't do well enough. Didn't win in Australia when I had the chance. Didn't get the chance to play Wimbledon. Roland Garros, lost fourth round. Here fourth round. Yeah, should do better. Should get more points if I want to be world No. 1 again.”

Wishing the media good night, Medvedev strode out of the notoriously chilly media center, perhaps in search of an open window—or at least a lozenge—his New York summer having come to a close.