One of This Year's Best Sneakers Was Actually Made for Serena Williams

The NikeCourt Flare pushes the boundaries of tennis shoe designs with an innovative second skin-like construction.

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Complex Original

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What if we told you that one of the dopest sneaker designs of the year was a women's tennis shoe? 

That just became a reality with the official announcement of the NikeCourt Flare. First seen on the feet of Serena Williams during the 2014 Australian Open, the NikeCourt Flare takes inspiration from some rather unexpected sources: Kobe Bryant and kung fu. Designed by Aaron Cooper, the sneaker's design places an emphasis on protecting Serena's ankles while remaining flexible and unrestricted.

"The very first seed of the idea actually came from working with a kung fu master. 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," Cooper said in a Nike press release today.

Meanwhile, the high-top construction of the Kobe 9 served as a guideline. "Serena is friends with Kobe and she obviously respects his capabilities on the court. She really responded to his story and was able to envision that translating to her performance," Cooper said. 

Outfitted with a neoprene ankle sleeve and drop-in cushioning, no detail has been overlooked on the NikeCourt Flare. Even the outsole was tweaked to be as durable as possible with targeted zones. "We obsessed every millimeter in the NikeCourt Flare because millimeters translate to milliseconds in sport," Cooper said.

The NikeCourt Flare is now available online for a retail price of $200, and will fit up to a men's size 10.