Roger Federer's 'THE ROGER' sneaker line expands with new clay-court version

Swiss sneaker company On has released its latest edition of Roger Federer's iconic shoe THE ROGER, which is specially designed for enhanced performance on clay courts.

Federer joined On as a shareholder in November 2019, and the 'THE ROGER' sneaker was released a few months later, in July 2020. The shoe has gained a lot of popularity since then, with quite a few versions of it being released.

Those include the THE ROGER Pro, which was the company's first-ever tennis-tournament shoe.

The most recent version of the sneaker, the THE ROGER Pro Clay, was released earlier this weekend. On shared a video of the 20-time Grand Slam champion on Instagram, where he could be seen practising on clay while wearing the shoe.

"Conquer the clay. Introducing THE ROGER Pro Clay: @rogerfederer’s iconic tennis shoe, optimized for clay courts," the video's caption read.

On's official website describes the THE ROGER Pro Clay in detail, stating that it has a full-length herringbone outsole. That is engineered to move clay through its grooves, thus helping players slide better on the court.

"THE ROGER Pro Clay's full-length herringbone outsole is engineered to move clay through the grooves so you can execute consistent and controlled slides without compromising on grip," the shoe's description reads.

"The new outsole provides extra traction, covering more of the midfoot. And at the toe, the tread opens up, allowing you to transition from sprint to slide like a pro," it adds.

On also claims that Roger Federer himself helped design the sneaker, and that it was developed for consistent slides and smooth transitions.

"When one of the world's best clay court players helps to design a shoe, you know it's going to be good. Engineered to optimize your performance on softer surfaces, THE ROGER Pro Clay was developed for consistent, dependable slides and smooth transitions – the signature element of clay play," On wrote on their website.

Roger Federer expresses his desire to be a part of the 2023 Laver Cup in some capacity

The 2022 Laver Cup

Roger Federer recently expressed his intention to be a part of the 2023 Laver Cup, which will be held in Vancouver. The Swiss maestro reacted to a build-up post for the tournament by stating that he was looking forward to it, although it is unclear in what capacity he will participate.

"Looking forward to seeing everyone in Vancouver," he wrote on his Instagram stories.

The 41-year-old played the final tennis match of his glittering career at last year's edition of the Laver Cup. He teamed up with Rafael Nadal for a doubles match against Team World's Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock, losing 4-6, 7-6, [11-9].