Roger Federer shocked the world when he ditched Nike for Japanese manufacturer Uniqlo in the summer last year.
However, the 20-time Grand Slam winner continued to play in Nike trainers despite not having a contract in place.
But now the 38-year-old has decided to invest a “meaningful” amount into Zurich-based company On.
The Swiss manufacturers produce the Cloud trainer which is extremely highly-rated among elite endurance athletes and Olympians.
Federer has become a strong shareholder in the company as he begins to plan for life after tennis.
“Sometimes, as an athlete of a certain age, you can feel like a falling star,” Federer told the New York Times.
“You can almost feel your image and success fading.
“In the past I he never used to want to dwell on life after tennis. Now it feels good committing to what will come next.”
But why has Federer chosen to invest in a luxury shoe brand?“We like it when little Swiss guys make a move on the big international stage,” he added.
“Brand building and global marketing. How to connect with fans across cultures. And I think I can motivate employees from a leadership perspective too, on how to stay humble but dream big.
“I learned to embrace personal style a while ago, both on and off the court.
“They were impossible to ignore because everyone had them, people on the street, my friends, my wife.
“At first, I thought that they were a little strange to look at, then I realised I actually really liked the design.”
It is unclear how much money Federer has put into the company but co-founder David Allemann believes it will make a big difference.
“It’s a very meaningful investment both for Roger, and also for On,” Allemann said.
And fellow founder Caspar Coppetti added: “Yes we have chocolate and watches, but Roger is one of the biggest Swiss exports ever and has done wonders for the image of Switzerland abroad.”
