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On’s Updated Stan Smith Challenger Might Be Its Best White Sneaker Ever

Six years on from its limited debut, the Roger Centre Court is back — quieter, cleaner, and harder to argue with than ever.

White sneaker with gold "THE ROGER" and "OC" logos on the side against a blue background.On
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By Ben Bowers

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When On and Roger Federer first unveiled the Roger Centre Court back in the summer of 2020, the sneaker world took notice.

The original Roger Centre Court debuted in July 2020 as a limited series of just 1,000 individually numbered pairs, released exclusively through a draw on On’s website and at Dover Street Market worldwide.

White leather sneakers with gold "DQ" logo and white laces worn with white ribbed socks.
The original Center Court was the first shoe the brand designed in collaboration with Roger Federer. It looked fantastic both on and off the court. But the new 2026 version of the shoe makes this clean white sneaker actually look busy by comparison.
On

As Sneaker Freaker reported at launch, the model marked On’s first co-designed project with Roger Federer. It paired a vegan-leather upper with a surprising amount of hidden performance tech — all in a package just over 300 grams.

The effect was a clean blend of tennis-court poise and everyday utility, without any of the bulk that defined On’s early running designs.

In 2026, the company has revived the 70s-leaning silhouette once more, this time in its most distilled form.

The new release might be the cleanest white sneaker On has produced to date. It’s a crispy, quietly premium design that competes just as naturally with icons like the Adidas Stan Smith as it does with luxury minimalists such as Common Projects.

Less is more

White low-top sneaker with gold "The Roger" text and logo on the side, featuring a thick white sole.
On embraced addition by subtraction with the revised Center Court. It removed additional text, perforations, and even the flash of national pride – the tiny Swiss flag – from the outer edge of the shoe and heel area.
On

Go Sherlock Holmes on these press images, and you’ll notice that On has removed the perforation detailing from the exterior leather that appeared on earlier versions, creating a cleaner, more monolithic surface.

Gone too is the small Swiss flag emblem that featured on the original, along with the text-heavy heel tab. The heel cuff itself has also been simplified — no visible textile wrapping around the collar, just smooth, minimal leather.

Pair of white sneakers with thick soles, gold logos on the heel tabs, and "THE ROGER" text on the sides.
The heel cuff itself has also been simplified — no visible textile wrapping around the collar, just smooth, minimal leather.
On

The gold Roger logo on the lateral midfoot and the On logo on the tongue are still present, but they read as accents rather than focal points. The result is a shoe that looks closer to a luxury dress sneaker than a performance-inspired lifestyle shoe.

Pair of white leather sneakers with white laces and gold text inside reading "THE ROGER CENTRE COURT.
Though the new version does feature flashier gold-toned branding on the heels and outer heel cups, the branding on the tongue is now all-white, enhancing the shoes’ extremely clean look from above.
On

Under the hood, the fundamentals carry over from the original. The Centre Court still runs on On’s CloudTec platform, with the cushioning pods hidden beneath the midsole for a clean underfoot profile.

An adjusted Speedboard in the bottom unit is said to provide a more comfort-tuned feel underfoot, and On has added more foam under the forefoot compared to earlier versions.

Pair of white shoe soles with textured grip patterns and a central groove running lengthwise.
While the shoe definitely leans heavily into lifestyle, On’s still snuck in technical elements that make these kicks capable of more than just walking if the need arises.
On

At 311 grams, it remains impressively light for a leather lifestyle shoe. The vegan leather upper, a nod to On’s sustainability focus that was central to the shoe’s original pitch, is still part of the construction.

Pricing and availability

White low-top sneaker with thick sole and lace-up design on a plain background.
The inside of the shoe is now as unadorned as it get these days for a modern sneaker from a major sportwear brand.
On

At $200, the Roger Centre Court White/White sits at the same price point as On’s other premium lifestyle models. In other words, it’s not a cheap sneaker.

But few all-white leather sneakers at this level combine this kind of technical underpinning with this level of restraint.

If the original Centre Court made a case for On as a serious lifestyle player, this version makes the case even more quietly. There are no loud details competing for attention here — this is just a fantastically executed and interesting white sneaker that happens to have a hidden performance chassis underneath.

Hat tip to the whole team at On – including you, you persistent overachiever Rodger. These things are badass.

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.

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