Stanislas Wawrinka, the new name in men's tennis keeping the Swiss on a roll

After a disappointing 2007, 22-year-old Stanislas Wawrinka has already reached an all-time high Top 10 ranking in men's tennis rankings and looks set to take over the baton from the Swiss master himself, Roger Federer.

Wawrinka has started the year in great form reaching the final of Doha, where he narrowly lost out to Andy Murray in the final. He has since had a great clay court season, cumulating in a final in the masters series event in Rome last week where he narrowly lost out to Novak Djokovic. But his ranking increased dramatically as a result.

But success is not new to the Swiss. Federer is probably the best tennis player ever seen on the ATP tour and Martina Hingis spent many years as No.1 in the women's game. Notable others are former Olympic champion Marc Rosset and women's top 20 player Patty Schnyder, a consistent player on the WTA tour over the past 10 years.

Wawrinka is probably a new name to most fans though. But the Swiss No. 2 has crept up the ATP ranking quietly, remaining in the shadow of Roger Federer, until now that is.

Having missed most of the early part of 2007, Wawrinka has very few ATP points to defend in the coming months and a good run of form on the European clay courts has already allowed him to reach the top 10 sooner than expected.

Wawrinka is a very underrated player and if he could just get a few more top scalps under his belt and have a consistent year without injury, the world is his oyster.

In 2007, despite playing a fairly limited schedule, Wawrinka had excellent wins over Marat Safin, Tommy Robredo, Guillermo Canas and Juan Ignacio Chela. In Rome alone this year Wawrinka defeated Andy Murray, James Blake, Andy Roddick and Juan Carlos Ferrero and Safin again, not bad for a week's work.

But two of his biggest wins of last year came against the in-form David Nalbandian, during the Argentinian's red-hot form on the European indoor circuit, showing not only can Wawrinka win against the best, but he can do so when his opponents are in form - the sign of a true champion.

If Federer retires in the next couple of years, Wawrinka will get the attention he deserves. He can play on any surface and if he continues his rich vein of form in the second half of the season then he can move up to the top five. He is not scared of any opponent and is ready to fight for any success that comes his way.

I think he is a breath of fresh air for the sport and hopefully he will cement his place amongst the top players currently on the ATP Tour.