Roger Federer made his long-awaited comeback from injury today at the Qatar Open, where he debuted On's first-ever competition tennis shoe, THE ROGER Pro. Federer donned the sneaker, which he helped develop, while winning his first match of the tournament, after being away from the game for more than a year following knee surgery.
To make THE ROGER Pro, On — a sportswear brand specializing in running footwear — had to adapt its technologies to adhere to the demands of the tennis court. While running is all about forward movement, tennis requires athletes to move laterally, with sudden changes in direction.
"Tennis players put up to three times their body weight through a shoe during lateral movements," said On’s Co-Founder and Innovation Leader, Olivier Bernhard. "These high forces demand extreme agility and stability. That's what we worked with Roger to create."
Catering to Federer's game, THE ROGER Pro is outfitted with a specially designed midfoot cage for precise foot placement no matter the movement, a stable midsole with high-performance foam, and a rounded sole that improves transition between strokes. The sneaker also features a plate between the midsole and upper — also found in every model from the Swiss line — offering enhanced energy return.
Unfortunately, THE ROGER Pro will not be available for purchase. However, you can find similar technologies in On's THE ROGER sneaker franchise here.
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