Lebron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry—top NBA players often get their names attached to a shoe line. Pro tennis players? Not so much. Especially a teenager who is yet to win her first major title or crack the Top 10. But, like many, New Balance believes Coco Gauff is a budding superstar and the time is now for her first signature sneaker.
Unveiled earlier this week at an exhibition match in Atlanta, the New Balance Coco CG1 is a 90’s-inspired mid-top shoe designed for maximum comfort and stability on the court, and a stylish look off it. The model features a FitWeave Lite upper for targeted stretch and support, FuelCell midsole for propulsive lateral footwork, and Energy Arc technology to deliver superior energy return in each step. An all-court, full-length NDurance rubber outsole provides the durability and traction needed for aggressive play.
Gauff collaborated closely with NB on the design elements to stress the importance of her family and provide inspiration for the next generation of players. Such details include Coco’s signature on the tongue and upper, as well as nods to the sports her parents played in college, with a basketball on the left heel and a track spike on the right one. The right toe sports a quote from her father, Corey, which reads: “You can change the world with your racket” and the left toe has the coordinates of the park where Gauff grew up playing tennis.