Tennis in Spain

Rafael Nadal

Tennis is highly popular in Spain, and the country has produced several tennis players with international careers.

Spain has won the Davis Cup six times (2000, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2019) and the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) five times (1991, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1998).

Rafael Nadal is regarded as the greatest Spanish player of all time. He has won 22 Grand Slam men's singles titles, the second-most in tennis history. He has won the French Open a record 14 times, between 2005 and 2022. After defeating then-world No. 1 Roger Federer in 2008, Nadal claimed the Wimbledon title in a historic final, having won the tournament twice thus far. In 2009, he became the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open, a feat he repeated at the 2022 Australian Open. After defeating Novak Djokovic in the 2010 US Open final, he became the first man in history to win majors on clay, grass, and hard courts in a calendar year (Surface Slam), and the first Spaniard to complete a Career Grand Slam, which he has achieved twice in singles (one of four men in history to do so). In addition, Nadal is one of two men to achieve the Career Golden Slam in singles and a two-time Olympic gold medalist, winning the singles event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the doubles event at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Spain has produced several other world No. 1 players; Arantxa Sánchez Vicario (a 3-time French Open champion in 1989, 1994 and 1998, and 1994 US Open champion), Carlos Moyá (1998 French Open champion), Juan Carlos Ferrero (2003 French Open champion), Garbiñe Muguruza (2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon champion) and Carlos Alcaraz (2022 US Open and 2023 Wimbledon champion).

Other Grand Slam champions are Manuel Santana (1961 and 1964 French Open, 1966 Wimbledon and 1965 US Open champion), Sergi Bruguera (1993 and 1994 French Open champion), Andrés Gimeno (1972 French Open champion), Manuel Orantes (1975 US Open champion), Conchita Martínez (1994 Wimbledon champion), and Albert Costa (2002 French Open champion).

Tournaments held in Spain on the men's tour every year include the Madrid Masters, Barcelona, and Mallorca. Madrid Masters is also contested by women in the WTA Tour.

List of Spanish tennis players (Open Era only)

Only includes players ranked in the top 50. Bold names indicate currently active players.

Men
Highest

ranking

Name Birth Place of Birth Turned

pro

Titles
No. 1 Rafael Nadal 1986 Balearic Islands Manacor, Mallorca 2001 92
No. 1 Carlos Moyá 1976 Balearic Islands Palma 1995 20
No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 1980 Valencian Community Ontinyent, Valencia 1998 16
No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 2003 Region of Murcia Murcia 2018 13
No. 2 Manuel Orantes 1949 Andalusia Granada 1968 36
No. 2 Àlex Corretja 1974 Catalonia Barcelona 1991 17
No. 3 David Ferrer 1982 Valencian Community Xàbia, Alicante 2000 27
No. 3 Sergi Bruguera 1971 Catalonia Barcelona 1988 14
No. 5 Tommy Robredo 1982 Catalonia Hostalric, Girona 1998 12
No. 6 José Higueras 1953 Andalusia Diezma 1973 16
No. 6 Albert Costa 1975 Catalonia Lleida 1993 12
No. 7 Emilio Sánchez 1965 Community of Madrid Madrid 1984 15
No. 7 Alberto Berasategui 1973 Basque Country (autonomous community) Bilbao 1991 14
No. 7 Fernando Verdasco 1983 Community of Madrid Madrid 2001 7
No. 7 Juan Aguilera 1962 Catalonia Barcelona 1981 5
No. 9 Nicolás Almagro 1985 Region of Murcia Murcia 2003 13
No. 9 Roberto Bautista Agut 1988 Valencian Community Castellón de la Plana 2006 11
No. 10 Carlos Costa 1968 Catalonia Barcelona 1988 6
No. 10 Félix Mantilla 1974 Catalonia Barcelona 1993 10
No. 10 Pablo Carreño Busta 1991 Asturias Gijón 2009 7
No. 12 Feliciano López 1981 Castilla–La Mancha Toledo 1997 7
No. 17 Albert Ramos-Viñolas 1988 Catalonia Barcelona 2004 4
No. 18 Francisco Clavet 1968 Community of Madrid Madrid 1988 8
No. 19 Marcel Granollers 1986 Catalonia Barcelona 2003 4
No. 19 Albert Portas 1973 Catalonia Barcelona 1994 1
No. 21 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 1999 Andalusia Malaga 2017 0
No. 22 Albert Montañés 1980 Catalonia Tarragona 1999 6
No. 23 Jordi Arrese 1964 Catalonia Barcelona 1982 6
No. 23 Javier Sánchez 1968 Navarre Pamplona 1986 4
No. 23 Guillermo García-López 1983 Castilla–La Mancha La Roda, Albacete 2002 5
No. 29 Fernando Vicente 1977 Valencian Community Benicarló, Castelló 1996 3
No. 30 Julián Alonso 1977 Catalonia Canet de Mar, Barcelona 1996 2
No. 31 Sergio Casal 1962 Catalonia Barcelona 1981 1
No. 32 Pablo Andújar 1986 Valencian Community Valencia 2005 4
No. 32 Juan Gisbert 1942 Catalonia Barcelona 1968 1
No. 34 Alberto Martín 1978 Catalonia Barcelona 1995 3
No. 37 Bernabé Zapata Miralles 1997 Valencian Community Valencia 2015 0
No. 40 Tomás Carbonell 1968 Catalonia Barcelona 1987 2
No. 40 Galo Blanco 1976 Asturias Oviedo 1995 1
No. 40 Pedro Martínez 1997 Valencian Community Alzira, Valencia 2016 1
No. 41 David Sánchez 1978 Castile and León Zamora 1997 2
No. 43 Jordi Burillo 1972 Catalonia Barcelona 1991 1
No. 44 Álex Calatrava 1973 Germany Cologne, Germany 1993 1
No. 47 Juan Albert Viloca 1973 Catalonia Barcelona 1992 0
No. 48 Daniel Gimeno-Traver 1985 Valencian Community Valencia 2004 0
No. 48 Óscar Hernández 1978 Catalonia Barcelona 1998 0
No. 49 Roberto Carballés Baena 1993 Canary Islands Tenerife 2011 2
No. 50 Rubén Ramírez Hidalgo 1978 Valencian Community Alicante 1998 0


Women
Highest

ranking

Name Birth Place of Birth Turned

pro

Titles
No. 1 Arantxa Sánchez Vicario 1971 Catalonia Barcelona 1985 29
No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza 1993 Venezuela Guatire, Venezuela 2012 10
No. 2 Conchita Martínez 1972 Aragon Monzón, Huesca 1988 33
No. 2 Paula Badosa 1997 United States New York, United States 2015 3
No. 6 Carla Suárez Navarro 1988 Canary Islands Las Palmas 2003 2
No. 16 Anabel Medina Garrigues 1982 Valencian Community Valencia 1998 11
No. 19 María José Martínez Sánchez 1982 Region of Murcia Yecla, Murcia 1998 5
No. 19 Magüi Serna 1979 Canary Islands Las Palmas 1996 3
No. 22 Ángeles Montolio 1975 Catalonia Barcelona 1990 3
No. 27 Gala León García 1973 Community of Madrid Madrid 1990 1
No. 27 Cristina Torrens Valero 1974 Navarre Pamplona 1992 2
No. 28 Virginia Ruano Pascual 1973 Community of Madrid Madrid 1992 3
No. 32 Sara Sorribes Tormo 1996 Valencian Community Castellón de la Plana 2012 1
No. 33 María Sánchez Lorenzo 1977 Castile and León Salamanca 1994 1
No. 35 Nuria Llagostera Vives 1980 Balearic Islands Mallorca 1996 2
No. 40 Lourdes Domínguez Lino 1981 Galicia (Spain) Pontevedra 1996 2
No. 45 Nuria Párrizas Díaz 1991 Andalusia Granada 2008 0
No. 46 Arantxa Parra Santonja 1982 Catalonia Barcelona 2000 0
No. 47 María Teresa Torró Flor 1992 Valencian Community Villena 2007 1
No. 47 Marta Marrero 1983 Canary Islands Las Palmas 1998 0

Grand Slam performances of Spanish tennis players

Only includes players who have reached at least a Grand Slam quarterfinal

Player Australian Open Roland Garros Wimbledon US Open Total titles
Rafael Nadal Winner (2) Winner (14) Winner (2) Winner (4) 22
Manuel Santana DNP Winner (2) Winner Winner 4
Arantxa Sánchez Vicario Runner up Winner (3) Runner up Winner 4
Garbiñe Muguruza Runner Up Winner Winner 4R 2
Carlos Alcaraz 3R SF Winner Winner 2
Sergi Bruguera 4R Winner (2) 4R 4R 2
Conchita Martínez Runner up Runner up Winner SF 1
Juan Carlos Ferrero SF Winner QF Runner up 1
Manuel Orantes QF Runner up SF Winner 1
Andrés Gimeno Runner up Winner SF 4R 1
Carlos Moyá Runner up Winner 4R SF 1
Albert Costa QF Winner 2R 4R 1
Manuel Alonso DNP SF Runner up QF 0
Lili Álvarez DNP SF Runner up DNP 0
Àlex Corretja 3R Runner up 2R QF 0
Alberto Berasategui QF Runner up 1R 2R 0
David Ferrer SF Runner up QF SF 0
Fernando Verdasco SF 4R 4R QF 0
Roberto Bautista Agut 4R QF 4R SF 0
Félix Mantilla QF SF 3R 4R 0
Pablo Carreño Busta 3R QF 1R SF 0
José Higueras DNP SF 2R 4R 0
Emilio Sánchez 4R QF 4R QF 0
Tommy Robredo QF QF 4R QF 0
Virginia Ruano Pascual QF QF 4R 3R 0
Carla Suárez Navarro QF QF 4R QF 0
Feliciano López 3R 4R QF QF 0
Nicolás Almagro QF QF 3R 4R 0
Javier Sánchez 3R 4R 2R QF 0
Marta Marrero 4R QF 2R 1R 0
Albert Ramos Viñolas 2R QF 3R 2R 0
Paula Badosa 4R QF 4R 2R 0
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 2R QF 3R 4R 0

Spanish tennis achievements timeline

Year Grand Slam

titles

Total titles (ATP + WTA) Team competitions Olympics Special achievements
1988 0 4 (2 ATP + 2 WTA) - 1 silver
1989 1 8 (3 ATP + 5 WTA) - - Arantxa Sánchez Vicario becomes the first Spanish woman to win a Grand Slam title
1990 0 12 (7 ATP + 5 WTA) Hopman Cup champions (1/4) -
1991 0 12 (8 ATP + 4 WTA) Fed Cup champions (1/5) -
1992 0 11 (8 ATP + 3 WTA) - 2 silvers, 1 bronze
1993 1 19 (10 ATP + 9 WTA) Fed Cup champions (2/5) -
1994 4 26 (14 ATP + 12 WTA) Fed Cup champions (3/5) - Sergi Bruguera and Alberto Berasategui play first all-Spanish Grand Slam final
Conchita Martínez becomes the first Spanish woman to win Wimbledon
1995 0 12 (4 ATP + 8 WTA) Fed Cup champions (4/5) - Arantxa Sánchez Vicario reaches #1 in both singles and doubles world rankings
1996 0 16 (12 ATP + 4 WTA) 2 silvers, 1 bronze
1997 0 16 (15 ATP + 1 WTA) - -
1998 2 17 (12 ATP + 5 WTA) Fed Cup champions (5/5) Àlex Corretja wins the Year-end Championships
1999 0 13 (9 ATP + 4 WTA) - Carlos Moyá reaches #1
2000 0 11 (9 ATP + 2 WTA) Davis Cup champions (1/6) 1 bronze
2001 0 18 (12 ATP + 6 WTA) -
2002 1 12 (10 ATP + 2 WTA) Hopman Cup champions (2/4) -
2003 1 13 (10 ATP + 3 WTA) - Juan Carlos Ferrero reaches #1
2004 0 9 (8 ATP + 1 WTA) Davis Cup champions (2/6) 1 silver
2005 1 16 (12 ATP + 4 WTA) -
2006 1 13 (10 ATP + 3 WTA) -
2007 1 13 (12 ATP + 1 WTA) -
2008 2 18 (16 ATP + 2 WTA) Davis Cup champions (3/6) 1 gold, 1 silver Rafael Nadal wins two majors including a 4th French Open title (the most by any Spaniard), an Olympic singles gold medal, and finishes the year as world No. 1 for the first time
2009 1 16 (13 ATP + 3 WTA) Davis Cup champions (4/6) - Rafael Nadal becomes the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open
2010 3 20 (19 ATP + 1 WTA) Hopman Cup champions (3/4) - Rafael Nadal becomes the first man to win majors on all three surfaces (clay, grass, and hard), the only Spaniard to complete the Career Golden Slam (second overall) and win Wimbledon twice, and ends the year as world No. 1
2011 1 18 (13 ATP + 5 WTA) Davis Cup champions (5/6) -
2012 1 15 (14 ATP + 1 WTA)
2013 2 17 (17 ATP + 0 WTA) Hopman Cup champions (4/4) - Rafael Nadal makes a stellar return to tennis in one of the greatest comeback seasons of all time, wins two majors including a 2nd US Open title (the most by any Spaniard), and ends the year as world No. 1
2014 1 14 (11 ATP + 3 WTA) -
2015 0 11 (10 ATP + 1 WTA) -
2016 1 13 (10 ATP + 3 WTA) 1 gold Garbiñe Muguruza wins a career-first Grand Slam title
2017 3 13 (11 ATP + 2 WTA) - Rafael Nadal makes a stellar comeback to tennis, wins two majors including a milestone 10th French Open title, and ends the year as world No. 1. Nadal and Garbiñe Muguruza top both the ATP and WTA rankings simultaneously
2018 1 10 (9 ATP + 1 WTA) -
2019 2 9 (8 ATP + 1 WTA) Davis Cup champions (6/6) -
2020 1 2 (2 ATP + 0 WTA) - Rafael Nadal wins a milestone 20th Grand Slam singles title, reaches 1000 career match wins (the most by any Spaniard), and becomes the first man to be ranked world No. 1 in three different decades
2021 0 12 (6 ATP + 6 WTA) 1 bronze Paula Badosa becomes the first Spanish woman to win the Indian Wells Masters
Garbiñe Muguruza becomes the first Spanish woman to win the WTA Finals
2022 3 9 (8 ATP + 1 WTA) - Rafael Nadal becomes the first man to win a 21st and 22nd Grand Slam singles title. Nadal becomes the fourth man to achieve a double Career Grand Slam in singles and the first to win multiple majors in three different decades
Paula Badosa becomes the fourth Spanish woman to reach the Top 5 of the WTA rankings

External links

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Tennis in Europe
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