Wimbledon starts on Monday. And I’m nervous and sad. Sad because my fave – Juan Martin del Potro – has a knee injury which has taken him out of tennis for the rest of the year. And nervous because of SERENA. Wimbledon is HER Slam. Serena Williams loves the grass, she loves Center Court, she loves playing in the UK. But Serena’s been dealing with a leg/knee/ankle/?? injury ever since Australia in January. She withdrew from Indian Wells, Miami and Rome and she lost in the third round of the French Open. She keeps saying practice is going well but… I don’t believe her. So I’m nervous for her. I’m nervous that the expectation is that she’s going to win #24 at Wimbledon and she’ll end up going out in an early round.
The expectations game is always difficult for Serena especially given all of her advertising contracts. Nike has probably booked a ton of Serena-specific ad time during the Slam and now this: Wheaties put her on the box! Serena is only the second African-American female tennis player to ever appear on the Wheaties box, the first being Althea Gibson. Serena is proud of this, saying: “I am so excited to be on the cover of the next Wheaties box. I have dreamt of this since I was a young woman and it’s an honor to join the ranks of some of America’s most decorated athletes. I hope my image on this iconic orange box will inspire the next generation of girls and athletes to dream big.” Yes, dream big. But what took Wheaties so long? Damn.
Anyway, more expectations for Serena. I’m so worried!! I’m also bizarrely nervous about her Nike kit for Wimbledon – please God don’t let it be another ballerina get-up.
She's an athlete. She’s a fashion designer. She’s a philanthropist. She’s a mother. @serenawilliams is a Champion. #ShesAChampion pic.twitter.com/TlptE7oH9o
— Wheaties (@wheaties) June 25, 2019
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
Didn’t realize Wheaties still existed tbh, and if they’re only just getting around to realizing that Serena is a champion then that may explain their (lack of) relevance in my life.
They chose a great photo. Do people still eat Wheaties?
I LOVE this photo! Never heard of Wheaties, though. 🙂
To me, they’re sort of like Weetabix crumbled up.
That really is a great photo !
I love the photo they chose of her and I am trying not to have any expectations because that usually means the opposite of what I want to happen will happen.
I honestly thought she and Venus already has a box. Huh.
Wow, Wheaties, way to drop the ball.
I’m so nervous for her too. I feel like Wimbledon last year was her best shot to win #24. Everything since has slipped just a little bit more.
I can’t believe it’s taken this long for her to make the Wheaties box! What a joke. I really hope Serena has a great tournament, but I’m also super excited for Ash Barty! Seeing her win the French Open and now be number 1 is so exciting and overwhelming!
Australian Tennis needed someone like her – she’s humble and a joy to watch. I hope it’s either Ash or Serena!