Ben Shelton’s Tennis Footwear Journey In Step With Roger Federer

As On started prepping for the release of The Roger Pro 3, Shelton was again part of the prototyping and testing process. “I think at this point I know the feeling that I like. I know what I’m looking for,” Shelton says. “I know what feels good and what looks good. It has been cool to be a part of the process.”

MORE: Ben Shelton The Brand: His Story To Tell

The 23-year-old American switched to the then-unreleased The Roger Pro 3 for the 2026 Australian Open (it launched at retail on April 21), keeping Shelton’s tennis footwear in lockstep with Federer for nearly four years.

It’s all so fitting since Shelton serves as the brand’s face of Federer’s namesake footwear model and the two have nearly identical wide feet. That helped Shelton transition into On quickly when he first signed and has since been able to “mold it as it pertains to my performance and how I move.”

Roger Federer waves to the crowd on Rod Laver Arena after the Opening Ceremony exhibition match ahead of the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia, while wearing On shoes. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)

Getty Images

As the first male tennis player On added to a sponsorship deal, Shelton has long said he enjoys being part of growing with the Switzerland-based company in the sport. “I think it is a cool opportunity as On expands as a company, as their tennis department expands,” he says. “As they become more and more innovative as a footwear company and performance brand I get to see and be around and give my input.”

Shelton’s on-court choices have a definite Federer element, but so do his off-court styles. Across Shelton’s wide range of On shoes, the one he gravitates toward most for off-court wear is The Roger Clubhouse. “For me, I wear more casual shoes than running shoes, so I end up wearing a lot of the shoes in The Roger family,” he says.

“Whether on court of off court, I think the style, the colorways, are the coolest opportunities for me,” Shelton says. “At the end of the day that is the opportunity to influence culture. To be able to be in some of these meetings and put some of my personal touch on a specific colorway or a certain shoe is really cool.”

Maybe someday Shelton will return the favor and ship Federer a pair of On shoes he helped style.

MORE: The Evolving Sneaker Style Of Roger Federer

This article was originally published on Forbes.com