On Serves It Big In Paris
Tennis is a fast-paced sport—every second counts once you step onto the court. Now, in the grand tradition of tennis legends making their mark, a new revolution is rising from the baseline—and it’s wearing On.
On May 21st, Paris witnessed a seismic shift in the culture of tennis, courtesy of the ACE Club—a high-energy, culture-forward community experience curated by Swiss performance brand On. No, not from Centre Court, but from a transformed event space that felt more like a warehouse rave than a traditional tournament. This was Clubhouse Nights: a hybrid event mixing performance, party, and sport—and redefining what tennis can be.
Held at the Paris Event Center, Clubhouse Nights flipped anyone’s expectation of the beloved sport. Under the industrial beams of the venue, two high-powered teams clashed in the inaugural Clubhouse Clash tournament. Belgian internet personality Boris Becker (no, not that Boris Becker—the German former tennis star—though the coincidence fits perfectly) emceed the night.
Those in attendance were treated to fierce volleys, electric energy, and a roaring crowd. The athletes were an elite mix of pro players and influencers with some real tennis chops. Here, they competed in time-based formats designed for pure spectacle. Simplicity was key: accessible rules, tightly scheduled matches, and outfits pulled straight from On’s newest collections.
The night was broken into four fast and furious match-ups, each engineered for maximum drama and crowd engagement.
First up: “Box to Box,” a rapid-fire warm-up where players could only score by landing shots in the service box. Miss long or wide, and you’re out. Next came “Rally Roulette”—a chaotic carousel of teamwork and tension, where each player in line got one chance to keep the rally going. A single mistake meant elimination, and the last player standing earned the point for their team.
Then came “Under and Over,” where players showed off their flashiest tweener shots. Two attempts per player, and only the best tricksters earned style points for their squad. And finally, “Return a Pro Serve”—a showdown of reflexes and nerves. Teams lined up, each player taking turns to return monster serves. The team with the most clean returns took the last point before the finals.
As the tournament progressed, the stakes got higher. The finalists earned the once-in-a-lifetime chance to face off against none other than surprise guest—Polish tennis superstar Iga Świątek. Currently one of the most dominant forces on the WTA tour, Iga is known for her aggressive baseline game, incredible footwork, and sharp mental focus. A four-time Grand Slam champion and the youngest player to hold the No. 1 spot in the last decade, she’s not only a top-tier athlete, she’s a disruptor in her own right—perfectly aligned with On’s ethos of rewriting the rules.
No stuffy etiquette. No hushed tones. Just pure, elevated play.
Unfairly, tennis has long held a preconceived cultural cachet that extends far beyond the court. To the uninformed, it’s preppy, it’s polished, it’s aspirational. But in recent decades, fashion’s gaze has fixated on taking the best parts of a nostalgic, Wimbledon-tinged aesthetic. Players and fans alike have been a central part in this dynamic evolution of the sport and the fashion that it begets.
Since their entry into tennis, On has built a roster of top-tier athletes who’ve stormed podiums and claimed world No. 1 rankings. But the brand’s ambitions stretch far beyond championship titles. With genre-defying footwear that blends tech with street sensibility and apparel collections that toe the line between sport and fashion, On is making a statement that performance and lifestyle don’t just coexist—they fuel each other.
Clubhouse Nights captured the fission of On’s transformation perfectly. After the final point was won following an ecstatic tourney, the bespoke tennis court transformed into a full-blown dancefloor for Clubhouse Nights Paris.
The party kicked off with a DJ line-up curated by Highsnobiety and The ACE Club, featuring sets by DJ Lucky and Andy 4000. Andy, known for her magnetic presence and eclectic taste, kept the Parisian cool vibe locked-down, while DJ Lucky, whose international residencies span from Cannes to London, turned the event into a sonic travelogue of Europe’s most fashion-forward nightlife.
The grand slam of the evening, however, was undoubtedly a surprise headline set from none other than Burna Boy.
Burna Boy—“The African Giant"—has become a global ambassador for Afrobeats, translating the rhythms of Lagos into international anthems. His presence in Paris wasn’t just a flex—it was a cultural bridge. By bringing Burna Boy into the fold, On underlined its mission: this isn’t just about sports. This is about redefining who gets to be in the room, and what a modern tennis crowd looks and sounds like.
With On’s help, we’re saying hello to a brand new generation of players and fans who see tennis not as a closed circuit, but as a cultural playground. With more to come, Clubhouse Nights Paris is the start of something big. More than a party. More than a match. It’s a manifesto.
Watch this space as the Clubhouse series grows, and check out the new collection from On by hitting the link here.
