On October 8th, Roger Federer, an investor and partner of the Switzerland sports brand On, and tennis legend Roger ·Federer, appeared at the On Shanghai meeting and gathered with members of the "Yunnan Wild Elephant Tennis Club".
Federer's On-Run meet-and-greet in Shanghai
On the court, Federer continues to pursue his dreams with an unhurried elegance, but off the court he is also actively involved in the development of junior tennis. In November 2019, Federer opened a new chapter in his tennis career as an entrepreneur and co-designer with Switzerland sports brand On, dedicated to promoting the popularity and development of tennis.
Founded in 2010, ON is a sports brand launched by triathlon world champion Olivier Bernhart and his two friends, fellow runners David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti, in Zurich, Switzerland. On's main business is running shoes, which are differentiated by the innovative sole technology CloudTec®.
In 2011, ON entered the Germany market for the first time, and two years later entered the United States and Japan markets, and achieved its first profit in 2014. In 2018, ON further expanded into China and Brazil and set up its Chinese headquarters in Shanghai. By 2019, On had a 40% share in the Switzerland running shoe market and a 10% share in the Germany market. In 2020, ON also achieved a 6.6% market share in the high-performance running shoes segment in the United States. On June 13, On's market capitalization rose to about $14 billion, just above the RMB 100 billion mark.
Prior to taking a stake in On, Federer was the face of Nike, and their last contract expired in 2018. In 2019, Federer joined On in the form of investment and cooperation. In July 2020, ON launched a limited-edition lifestyle shoe called "The Roger". Federer's addition not only increased brand awareness, but also brought On's style closer to the target middle class.
At today's event in Shanghai, On invited the coaches and young players of the "Yunnan Wild Elephant Tennis Club". Coming from the remote mountains of Yunnan Province, this group of children has a dream of becoming professional tennis players and actively participates in competitions all over the country. "The story of Yunnan Wild Elephant Tennis Club is inspiring, and we hope to inspire more young people to surpass themselves and pursue their dreams." Rebecca Cai, General Manager of On Asia Pacific, said, "On is committed to helping athletes achieve their dreams, empowering the future of the tennis industry and supporting the next generation to build their dreams. ”
Federer appeared at the event in Shanghai
At the event, Federer said: "Every time I set foot on this vibrant land, I can feel that the development of Chinese tennis is becoming more and more vigorous. I am filled with joy and pride to witness this change. Federer's love for tennis reminded Federer of his young tennis dreams, and he encouraged them to cherish this love and persevere, "Love is the seed of dreams, and perseverance and hard work are the sunshine and rain that allow these seeds to thrive." Federer wants young players to enjoy tennis while chasing their dreams.
Federer was personally on the pitch to give invaluable guidance, support and encouragement to the young players
Federer with the "Yunnan Wild Elephant Tennis Club".
It is reported that On and Federer will continue to work together to inspire Chinese tennis fans to enjoy the energy brought by every swing of the racket and ignite the sportsmanship in their hearts.