Since 2014, Serena Williams has only worn one type of shoe in every single match she’s competed in — the NikeCourt Flare. The super lightweight, durable shoe was designed by Nike Innovation’s Aaron Cooper, who worked with Williams to create a unique sneaker that would fit her needs as a pro athlete. The pair took inspiration from the collection of KOBE signature shoes that Cooper brought to his first meeting with Wiliams.

“Serena is friends with Kobe and she obviously respects his capabilities on the court,” Cooper says. “So she really responded to his story and was able to envision that translating to her performance.”

“The very first seed of the idea actually came from working with a Kung Fu master,” Cooper says. “An insight we gained from him was this idea of unencumbered mobility. The thought is that a product should be an extension of your body.”

Williams emphasized the shoe’s ability to provide strong ankle support without being bulky.

“This shoe really is an extension of my foot,” Williams says. “And when you think about it, if you’re at home in your house and you don’t have shoes on, you just don’t think about anything else. It’s just your body. And that’s what this shoe is all about.”

Now athletes and fans alike can cop the show that Serena Williams wore when capturing three major singles titles. Get the the NikeCourt Flare for women at select Nike Stores and on Nike.com.