Paula Badosa reached a career-high ranking of No. 2 last week.
Recently-retired Carla Suarez Navarro sees the Spanish No. 1 as the future world No. 1.
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Badosa, who currently trails world No. 1 Iga Swiatek by 2,136 points in the WTA rankings, can rise to the top says Suarez Navarro.
"Last year, Paula Badosa took a giant step and, in addition, this year, she is consolidating it," Suarez Navarro told EFE. "Patiently and unhurriedly, I see Paula as number one.
"It's close. She only has Iga Swiatek ahead of her. She's doing things very well."
Former world No. 1 Simona Halep streaked through nine straight games dismissing Badosa 6-3, 6-1, in MAdrid.
It was a doubly difficult defeat for Badosa, who was bothered by a shoulder issue and will lose the No. 2 ranking. Roland Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova surpasses Badosa in the live rankings to regain No. 2.
"Yeah, it's not the best moment right now. Quite bad," Badosa told the media in Madrid. "I don't know. It's tough to lose at home. It's been a tough week, as well. Very stressful, a lot of things. Tough draw, as well. But it goes how it goes, and I have to accept it.
"I think I need days off, because there are some tournaments that they seem like five, and this is the case right now. So, yeah, I think I will have to rest a little bit."
Pointing to the success of Badosa, two-time Grand Slam champion Garbine Muguruza, who won the WTA Finals last year, and veteran Sara Sorribes Tormo, who became the fourth Spanish woman in history to reach the Madrid quarterfinals today, Suarez Navarro said Spanish women's tennis is in a happy place.
"And Garbiñe Muguruza we already know what she is capable of if the injuries respect her," Suarez Navarro told EFE. "Behind, there are people like Sara Sorribes or Nuria Párrizas and young tennis players with a lot of desire.
"Spanish women's tennis is in a moment of being able to give joys."
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