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Switzerland has long been on the lookout for the next Martina Hingis - but have they found her in Stefanie Voegele?

Full name: Stefanie Voegele

Nationality: Swiss (Born and lives in Leuggern, Switzerland, near the German border)

Age: 19 (DOB: 10 March 1990)

World ranking: 76 (career high: 72nd in October 2009)

Career highlights: Semi-finalist at WTA Portoroz in 2009, made quarter-finals in Birmingham and Tashkent. Winner of three ITF titles in 2007. Drew Venus Williams in the first round at Wimbledon in 2009 and put up an impressive display on Centre Court, breaking the American's serve at one point before Williams upped her game to complete a straight-sets victory.

General: Switzerland has been crying out for the new Martina Hingis for years and Voegele - along with Timea Bacsinszky - is one of the prime candidates. Having said that, her rise has been the complete opposite of Hingis's almost instant ascent to the top of the world in her mid-teens: Voegele has risen steadily and consistently through the ranks over the past three years. The question is this: how long can that rise continue?

Strengths: A ferocious backhand is her mightiest weapon, a shot she often uses to take the initiative in a point. That aggression also rears its head as she often charges the net, making her a particularly dangerous opponent on grass - as she showed both in Birmingham and with that impressive display against Williams. Plenty of fight and spirit - going a set down doesn't seem to faze her at all.

Weaknesses: Mobility around the court is an issue - and one that she admits, for she seems a bit leaden-footed. Her forehand is a little flat and lacking in punch, but the biggest issue is with her serve. Her first serve is often too patchy, and her second serve is just not strong enough to stand up to examination at the top level. She's not the strongest player, either - though at 5'7" and under 10 stone that's hardly surprising, though she has the look of a late developer and could easily build her strength. She may keep plugging away no matter how a match is going, but her mental attitude is almost too zen-like: she admits to taking a philosophical approach to the game, admirable in itself, but perhaps a little more hot-blooded passion would help more than hinder.

Prospects: If her strength and movement improve, there's no reason to imagine that her steady progress will stop any time soon because she seems able to learn from both defeats and victories. Don't expect a meteoric rise - toppling superstars doesn't seem to be in her make-up, given her weak record against higher-ranked players - but she seems a very good bet to crack the top 30 before too long.

Personal: Coach Ivo Werner travels the circuit with her - thanks to help from the Swiss tennis federation - making future improvement likely. Backhand down the line is her favourite shot - but she'd give anything to move around the court like her hero, compatriot and tennis idol Roger Federer. Grew up next door to tennis courts and was introduced to the game at the age of four by parents Edith and Bruno, respectively a carer for the elderly and a business executive. Has three sisters: a doctor, a banker and a music student. Owns a cat, loves shopping in New York and visiting Zurich. Refreshingly free of ambition away from the court: when not on the circuit she admits to loving nothing more than sleeping, eating, reading and doing "a lot of hanging around".

Tennis Spy / Eurosport