THE ROGER Pro from Swiss sportswear brand On makes its debut this week at the 2021 Qatar Open in Doha.
After a 13-month layoff, one of the great tennis champions ever to pick up a racket makes his much-anticipated return. And when he does, he’ll be sporting an all-new pair of shoes crafted with his unmatched precision and grace in mind.
Roger Federer is set to face Daniel Evans at the Qatar Open in Doha Wednesday, marking not just his first on-court action since the 2020 Australian Open, but the debut of THE ROGER Pro, the latest performance sneaker from Swiss sportswear innovator On.
A record 20-time Grand Slam singles champion who’s spent over 300 weeks as the No. 1-ranked men’s player in the world, On is Federer’s first new sneaker partner since his teenage years — and the champ played a lead role in THE ROGER Pro’s design.
“After so many years at the top of world sport, Roger has his sense of what performance should feel like completely dialed in,” said Olivier Bernhard, On’s Co-Founder and Innovation Leader and a former professional athlete himself. “He can sense every small adjustment. This insight guided the whole project.”
Five sets is a long, long time, and a championship athlete can’t afford to wonder if his gear can withstand such a stern test. That’s why THE ROGER Pro features a special carbon fiber plate between the midsole and upper — On calls it the Speedboard — to minimize landing impact and maximize agility. Additionally, a midfoot cage ensures ideal foot placement point after point.
This innovative tennis shoe, the first designed by On, inspired an entire sneaker franchise that includes models called Centre Court, Clubhouse, and Advantage. However, THE ROGER Pro, due to being purpose-built to Federer’s specifications, is the only shoe of its kind. It is not available for purchase.
After all, there is only one Roger.
Click here to learn more about On at their official website.
