Serena Williams can add another accomplishment to her resume.
More than a decade after honoring athlete Althea Gibson in 2001, General Mills’ Wheaties has chosen Williams as the second ever black female tennis player to be featured on the cover of the box.
“Althea Gibson was the FIRST Black Woman tennis player to be on the box,” Williams wrote on Instagram. “Today, I am honored to be the second.”
The Wheaties’ box slogan, “the Breakfast of Champions,” coincides perfectly with this star tennis player. She has been named WTA Player of the Year seven times, has 23 major titles, 14 major doubles titles and was officially ranked the world’s No. 1 in women’s singles eight times total from 2002 until 2017.
Williams will be the fourth female tennis player of all-time featured on the cover, as well as the first active tennis player featured since Pete Sampras in 2000.
“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,” Williams said in a statement, according to ABC. “I hope my image on this iconic orange box will inspire the next generation of girls and athletes to dream big.”
The announcement comes as Williams begins her quest to win a 24th major at Wimbledon on Monday. The limited-edition box will hit the shelves in the U.S. beginning next month.


