ZURICH - SWITZERLAND, March 9th, 2021 - Today, the world watches as Roger Federer makes his long-awaited comeback at the 2021 Qatar Open in Doha. All eyes will fall on the Swiss maestro's feet where, for the first time, his craftsmanship on the court will be matched with an equally crafted shoe — THE ROGER Pro, On's debut tennis competition shoe Swiss-engineered by Roger Federer and the On Lab.

Developing a tennis shoe meant adapting On's technologies to meet the demands of the court. Counter to running's forward movement, tennis requires agile side-to-side directional changes at high speeds.

"Tennis players put up to three times their body weight through a shoe during lateral movements," explains Olivier Bernhard, On’s Co-Founder and Innovation Leader.

"These high forces demand extreme agility and stability. That's what we worked with Roger to create."

On's first tennis shoe features a stable midsole of high-performing foam, a midfoot cage for precision of foot placement during rapid-fire rallies, and a rounded sole to support smooth transitions between strokes.

Consistent with all models across the Swiss line, THE ROGER Pro incorporates a plate between the midsole and upper - or Speedboard® - for enhanced energy return. Made from 100% carbon fibre, this explosive feature absorbs impact from landing before returning it for added agility.

"After so many years at the top of world sport, Roger has his sense of what performance should feel like completely dialed in," says Bernhard, a former professional athlete. "He can sense every small adjustment. This insight guided the whole project."

The concept of THE ROGER Pro served as the initial technology inspiration for all models of THE ROGER sneaker franchise, including THE ROGER Centre Court, Clubhouse and Advantage.

THE ROGER Pro is a one-of-a-kind model Swiss-engineered to Roger's requirements and not available for purchase.

Assets available here.

About On?

On was born in the Swiss Alps with one goal: to revolutionize the sensation of running. Eleven years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel, and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, and all day activities. Driven by peer-recommendation, On’s award- winning CloudTec® technology and groundbreaking strides in sportswear’s circular economy has attracted the fastest-growing global fan base in specialty running — inspiring humans to explore through fearless performance, mindful innovation and purposeful design; empowering all to run on clouds. www.on-running.com

18 months ago, Roger Federer joined the founders of the young running brand to shape its future. As a true partner, he is currently helping in overseeing product development, marketing and fan experiences as well as the athlete spirit of On’s high-performing culture.

On’s Cloudtec® sole is patented worldwide. Ten years after market launch, On is available at 7,000 retailers in over 55 countries in Europe, North America, South America and Asia-Pacific.