体坛英语新闻：Serbian tennis players credited as "unofficial" ambassadors

BELGRADE, April 25 (Xinhua) -- When Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic presented diplomatic passports to members of Serbia's national tennis teams on Monday, he underscored the important contribution of tennis players in restoring Serbia's reputation internationally, reported the Serbian news agency Tanjug.

Just hours before the start of the Serbia Open ATP, Jeremic handed diplomatic passports to Novak Djokovic, Viktor Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic, Nenad Zimonjic, Ana Jovanovic and Bojana Jovanovski. Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic were not in attendance.

"It is a great honor and pleasure for me to promote the diplomatic service in this way and to deliver passports to individuals who have greatly contributed to Serbian tennis," Jeremic said at the Novak Tennis Center in Belgrade.

Jeremic said Serbia had undergone a difficult period (since the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia) which had harmed its reputation and image internationally. He stated that the tennis players had done much to improve Serbia's reputation abroad.

"The best way to change our image is to show energy, endurance, love for one's country, smile and good will -- all of which you have," Jeremic told the tennis players.

"The fact that today you have been named ambassadors of good will is a great honor for Serbia."

World number two singles tennis player, Novak Djokovic on behalf of the assembled tennis players said that they as athletes would now be able to represent the country in more official manner in the future.

"We will try to live up to the status of Serbia's ambassadors of good will," said Djokovic.