Despite having been sidelined by an ankle injury for nearly three months, China's two-time Grand Slam doubles champion Zheng Jie hasn't suffered a title drought. On September 17, she was named Promoter of Gender Equality as a part of the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour's partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In her new role, Zheng, a winner of three singles and 10 doubles titles on the WTA Tour, will raise awareness of gender equality issues at both a national and global level, and have direct involvement in women's leadership programs to be developed in China and internationally through the UNESCO-WTA Tour partnership, Xinhua News Agency reports.

According to UNESCO sources, Zheng, with her devotion to tennis and achievements in this sport, has become a role model for young women around the world.

"I am looking forward to helping young girls and women in my country and around the world to gain better opportunities to succeed in whatever they wish to do. I hope that I can make a difference on this very important issue," Zheng told reporters at a ceremony where her appointment was announced.

Zheng, 24, made her WTA ranking debut in 2000. She ended the first year of her professional career in 2003 in the top 100.

In January 2006, Zheng and her partner Yan Zi became the first Chinese tennis players-male or female-to reach the final of a Grand Slam, as well as win it, at the Australian Open's women's doubles event. The pair then captured China's first Wimbledon title in the following July. With her win, Zheng became the highest ranked Chinese women's doubles player at number 3, while her singles ranking reached a career high of number 27. Zheng is also the first Chinese tennis player to amass over $1 million in career earnings.

Although recovering from injury, Zheng remains among China's medal hopefuls for the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing.

Before Zheng, WTA Tour stars Venus Williams from the United States and Tatiana Golovin of France were named as Promoters of Gender Equality for the program in November 2006 and May 2007, respectively.

Profile of Zheng Jie Date of Birth: July 5, 1983 Place of Birth: Chengdu, Sichuan, China Height: 5' 4/5in (1.64 m) Weight: 126 lbs. (57 kg) Turned Professional: January 16, 2003 Highest Singles Ranking: No.27 (August 14, 2006) Highest Doubles Ranking: No.3 (July 10, 2006)

"Through our partnership with UNESCO, we seek to show the world that women should be treated the same as men and to create real leadership opportunities for women and girls. We look forward to Zheng Jie helping us toward this goal."

David Shoemaker, COO & General Counsel, Sony Ericsson WTA Tour

"In light of Resolution 2758, it is not legally possible to receive the purported application of Taiwan] for membership."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, speaking at a press conference on September 18 at the UN headquarters in New York, with reference to

the application of the Taiwan authorities to join the world body in the name of "Taiwan"

"Today's action is intended to help forestall some of the adverse effects on the broader economy that might otherwise arise from the disruptions in financial markets and to promote moderate growth over time."

Statement of the U.S. Federal Reserve, after it decided on September 18 to cut U.S. interest rates by a hefty half-percentage point to 4.75 percent,

the first reduction since June 2003

"We have to prepare for the worst, and the worst is war."

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, warning that the world should brace for a possible war over the Iranian nuclear crisis but seeking a solution through talks should take priority, in an interview broadcast on French television and radio on September 16

"I will not tolerate continued non-compliance."

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, vowing to enforce the European Commission's 2004 record fine of 497 million euros ($690 million) on Microsoft for the giant's abuse of its Windows monopoly. The European Court of First Instance, the EU's second highest tribunal, upheld most of the commission's antitrust ruling on September 17

"For this government, failure is not an option."

Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma, pledging to improve the lives of people who live in this world's second poorest country, where a

10-year civil war ended in 2001