Leylah Fernandez “experimenting” on court with Puma Stewie 2 basketball shoes

“They actually look a lot like tennis shoes—that’s actually where I saw them,” Fernandez recalled. “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.

“And then, some funny statement my dad made… He said why not just try it out on the tennis court? I’m like, yeah I’ll do it! Let me buy it and let’s try it out. And I fell in love with it.”

According to Puma, the “court-ready” shoes feature a high-abrasion rubber outsole with non-slip rubber compounds, as well as a cushioning made from nitrogen-injected foam for “superior responsiveness and comfort” while still remaining lightweight.