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Roger Federer, after his retirement from the sport, has shifted his attention and turned into something of an entrepreneur. The 20-time Grand Slam winner who etched his status as one of the best to grace the sport with his on-court prowess, has now stepped into the business world. He looks to replicate the success that he enjoyed on the court. However, in a recent revelation, the Roger Federer-backed company ‘On Running’ has dealt a major blow.

Canadian tennis international Leylah Fernandez, whom Roger Federer signed on as an ambassador back in 2021, has reportedly ditched the Swiss player’s brand as she was spotted practicing tennis post-US Open in her new shoes. However, in the interview, she revealed the main reason behind ditching the Swiss maestro’s shoes and wearing the new kicks.

Leylah Fernandez ditches Roger Federer to pick up a new pair of kicks

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Leylah Fernandez, known for her fashion choices on the tennis court, has once again stirred the tennis world with her selection of shoes. However, it was not her sartorial choice per se that created waves, but the brand she was spotted wearing. Breaking away from the endorsement of Roger Federer’s renowned ‘On Running’ brand, Fernandez opted for Puma’s Stewie 2 basketball shoes.

The Stewie 2, designed in honor of WNBA legend Breanna Stewart, has the qualities that make Stewart a “force of nature.” With vibrant color options like Water, Earth, and Fire, Fernandez chose the cool blue-aqua-white version for her on-court performances. But what is more intriguing is that these basketball shoes bear quite a resemblance to tennis footwear.

“They actually look a lot like tennis shoes—that’s actually where I saw them. I saw it close to the tennis shoes and it looked like a tennis shoe, and I’m like, ‘Ah, let me try this out.’ The clerk just told me, ‘No, it’s basketball shoes’,” said Fernandez.

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The Canadian also addressed recent speculation that cast a spotlight on her new pair of kicks. “I’ve been getting a lot of questions and comments about that. Yes I am wearing basketball shoes, I’m wearing Puma Stewie 2 and they feel super comfortable, she told TennisOne.

This move showcases Leylah Fernandez’s choice of pushing boundaries in tennis fashion and her willingness to embrace innovation. While Leylah Fernandez changed from her ‘On Running’ shoes to her special edition Puma kicks, her fans wondered, what made the shoes so special.

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What makes the Stewie 2 shoes by Puma so special?

These “court-ready” shoes from Puma reportedly have a high-abrasion rubber outsole equipped with non-slip rubber compounds. Adding to that is nitrogen-injected foam cushioning. This technology delivers exceptional responsiveness and comfort, all while maintaining a featherlight design. These things together make the shoe design one in a million.

When asked Leylah about her experience, she claimed that she had taken a liking to the comfort and visual aesthetic the shoe provided. She also highlighted the freedom to experiment as another key takeaway for switching kicks. I’m feeling great on court. I love the shoes, I love the colors. It matches super well with the Lululemon outfit. I’m super happy that I get to experiment on a couple of things,” the Canadian said.

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Thus, while still in partnership with On Running, she had a completely new experience while putting Puma’s latest kicks on. Whether or not a new journey is about to flourish will only be revealed as time passes. But for now, she remains loyal to Roger Federer’s On Running. What do you make of the tennis star’s declaration about the shoes? Let us know in the comments section below.

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