Three things are synonymous with Switzerland: mountains, chocolate, and Roger Federer.
Federer has been the pride and joy of the beautiful European nation since his 2001 Wimbledon Championships victory against Pete Sampras and has become associated with the sport in the country.
In Switzerland, you can't seem to think about anything else than Roger Federer when it comes to sports, let alone tennis.
However, the nation has produced several other excellent tennis players, although not as well-known as Federer.
Here are seven tennis players from Switzerland you should be familiar with:
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7. Jakob Hlasek
In his career, Swiss-Czech player Jakob Hlasek won five singles championships and 20 doubles titles.
He peaked at No. 7 in singles and No. 4 in doubles throughout his career.
Hlasek is best known for winning the French Open doubles championship with Marc Rosset in 1992, as well as being a member of the Swiss teams that won the Hopman Cup and advanced to the Davis Cup final.
Hlasek would go on to more international success in 1996 when he was a member of the Swiss squad that won the World Team Cup, the second-most important men's team tournament after the Davis Cup.
6. Heinz Günthardt
Heinz Günthardt was a successful doubles player who won both the men's and mixed doubles events at the 1985 Wimbledon Championships and the US Open. In his career, he won 30 doubles championships.
Günthardt's greatest singles performances were quarterfinal appearances in the aforementioned events. In 1986, he was ranked No. 22 for the first time in his career.
Günthardt went into coaching after his playing career.
He was a longstanding coach of Steffi Graf, generally regarded as the best woman in tennis history, and also briefly taught Jelena Doki.
From February to November 2010, he worked as a coach with Ana Ivanovi.
5. Stanislas Wawrinka
Stanislas Wawrinka, 26, is presently rated 16th on the men's circuit. In 2008, he was ranked No. 9 for the first time in his career.
Wawrinka, like Federer, possesses a one-handed backhand that is among the greatest in the game. It was also hailed by John McEnroe as one of the most powerful backhands he had ever seen.
Wawrinka's career highlight thus far has been winning gold in the men's doubles event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics alongside Federer. The victory also earned the duo the title of Swiss Team of the Year.
Due to his strong, aggressive baseline play, Wawrinka is one of the most entertaining players to watch on the circuit.
It's incredible that he's never advanced beyond the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam.
4. Patty Schnyder
Patty Schnyder, who retired earlier this year, was well-known for her ability to defeat the best players in the world.
Steffi Graf, Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Hingis, Jennifer Capriati, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Serena Williams, Ana Ivanovic, and Caroline Wozniacki are among the world No. 1 players she has beaten in her career.
She defeated four top-10 players in a row in the 2002 Family Circle Cup in Charleston.
Schnyder won 11 singles championships and five doubles win throughout her 17-year professional career.
She never won a Grand Slam, although she did reach the quarterfinals of six Grand Slam singles tournaments and the semifinals of one.
In the WTA rankings, Schnyder has reached as high as No. 7.
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3. Marc Rosset
Marc Rosset is most known for winning the gold medal in the singles event at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
Prior to the arrival of Federer, Rosset was the primary choice for the Swiss squad. Against his replacement, he has a 2-2 record.
Rosset had a very successful year in 1992.
He defeated Jim Courier, Goran Ivanievi, Wayne Ferreira, and Emilio Sánchez at the Olympics before defeating Jordi Aresse of Spain for the gold.
Rosset also won the French Open doubles championship with Jakob Hlasek that year and was a member of the Swiss Davis Cup squad that reached the final.
Rosset, who stood at a towering 6'7" and had a career-high ranking of No. 9 in singles and No. 8 in doubles, was considered as one of the game's most powerful and quickest serves.
It's a pity that, towards the conclusion of his career, he was eclipsed by his more famous colleague.
2. Martina Hingis
Martina Hingis, often known as the Swiss Miss, was one of the most successful female tennis players of all time, having held the world No. 1 position for a total of 209 weeks.
In her professional career, she won five Grand Slam singles championships, nine Grand Slam doubles titles, and one Grand Slam mixed doubles title.
Hingis, who began playing tennis at the age of two and competed in her first event at the age of four, was the "youngest-ever" at the majority of her achievements.
When she won the French Open at the age of 12, she became the youngest Grand Slam juniors champion ever.
She became the youngest Grand Slam winner at the age of 15 when she won the women's doubles championship at Wimbledon in 1996.
When she won the 1997 Australian Open at the age of 16, she became the youngest person to ever win a Grand Slam singles championship.
She went on to become the youngest player to ever hold the world No. 1 ranking later that year.
Hingis, who was 22 at the time, retired early in 2003 due to injuries. However, in the 2006 season, she was to make a return.
At the 2006 Australian Open, the Swiss Miss celebrated her return by winning her first-ever Grand Slam mixed doubles championship with Mahesh Bhupathi.
When fighting her way back up to No. 7 in the rankings by the end of the year, Hingis' return was cut short after she tested positive for cocaine and was banned for two years the following year.
Hingis, who was visibly upset, rejected the allegations and broke off all ties with the sport.
She is, however, considering returning to the sport in time for the 2012 London Olympics.
1. Roger Federer
What can I say about this guy that you don't already know?
