Spain has a new sporting hero after Paula Badosa stormed to victory at Indian Wells yesterday.

The 23-year-old defeated Belarus’s Victoria Azarenka in a three-set thriller, eventually winning 7-6, 6-2, 7-6.

Badosa’s successful run at Indian Wells has seen her rise up to world number 15, joining a number of other Spaniards at the very top in the world of tennis.

GiveMeSport Women runs through the country’s five best currently active tennis players.

5) Sara Sorribes Tormo

Sara Sorribes Tormo is currently ranked 34th in the world. She first entered the top 100 in 2017, earning a regular place on the WTA Tour.

The 25-year-old won her first WTA title this year, triumphing at the Abierto Zapopan in March. She has also achieved two WTA doubles titles during her career.

Sorribes Tormo is yet to make a breakthrough at a Grand Slam, but earned her best finish this year when she reached the third round of the US Open. She will be hoping to continue her rise up the WTA rankings in the coming weeks.

Spanish tennis player Sara Sorribes Tormo is ranked 34th in the world

4) Pablo Carreño Busta

At world number 16, Carreño Busta is not too far off his career-high ranking of world number 10, achieved in 2017. He has won six ATP titles during his career, including the Hamburg European Open.

The 30-year-old had a particularly successful summer, finishing with a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after beating world number one Novak Djokovic in the third place play-off.

Spain's Pablo Carreño Busta has a career-high ranking of world number 10

3) Paula Badosa

Paula Badosa is currently enjoying a breakthrough season, capturing her second WTA title at Indian Wells after winning the Belgrade Open in May.

The emerging talent also had a successful run at the French Open, finally falling to Tamara Zidanšek in the quarter-finals.

Badosa has the potential to become one of Spain’s best tennis players around if she continues her winning ways.

Paula Badosa won Indian Wells yesterday

2) Garbiñe Muguruza

Badosa still has a long way to go before emulating the achievements of her compatriot Garbiñe Muguruza, however.

The 28-year-old, winner of the 2016 French Open and Wimbledon in 2017, was world number one in September and October 2017.

She has now slipped to world number five, but is still one of the most feared tennis players on the WTA circuit.

Garbiñe Muguruza is ranked as world number five

1) Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal is not only one of Spain’s all-time sporting greats, but one of the best tennis players in history. The 35-year-old has won 20 Grand Slams, including 13 French Open titles.

Currently ranked number six, Nadal was ranked world number one for an astonishing 209 weeks, finishing as the year-end number one five times. He is likely to have spent longer at the top if not for rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Nadal is currently struggling with a foot injury, but is expected to return to the ATP circuit in 2022.

Rafael Nadal is one of Spain's greatest ever sportstars