Badosa had won her last four matches on her debut at the tournament in straight sets, including victories over third seed Barbora Krejčíková of Czech Republic, Germany's three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber and Tunisian Ons Jabeur, at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden

Azarenka meanwhile won this Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour 1000 event in 2012 and 2016, but losing two tiebreaks to her opponent put paid to her chances of becoming the first woman to clinch the title for the third time.

The Belarusian lost serve twice in the first set twice, but immediately recovered with a break in the next game to take it to a tiebreak, which Badosa took 7-5.

Azarenka hit back as she stormed to a 6-2 win in the second set, but the third was just as close as the first as it went to a tiebreak with both players tied at six games apiece.

It was Badosa who came out on top again, triumphing 7-2 this time to become the first Spanish woman to win at Indian Wells.

Her victory in 3 hours 04min was the longest singles final on this year's WTA Tour.

"I think it was a really tough match," Badosa said afterwards.

"I think it was a really good one as well, because she played an amazing level.

"I think I had to rise [to a] high level every set.

"At the third set, I think I played my best.

"It was the only option if I wanted to win, so I'm really proud of it.

"The first thing that I've learned this week is that nothing is impossible.

"If you fight, if you work, after all these years, you can achieve anything."

The men's singles tournament featured two players making their debut at an Association of Tennis Professionals Masters 1000 final, and it was Norrie who came from behind to become the first player from outside the top 25 to win at Indian Wells for more than a decade since Croatia's Ivan Ljubičić in 2010.

Norrie was impressive in getting past Argentina's Diego Schwartzman and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets, but Basilashvili claimed the scalp of world number three Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in the quarter-final.

The Briton struck first with a break in the third game of the third set, but Basilashvili hit back to take it 6-3.

Norrie then found himself a break down in the second set, but it was his turn to fight back on this occasion as he won it 6-4 to level the match.

Basilashvili had the opportunity of three break points as he trailed 2-0 in the third set, but failed to capitalise on them, and it was Norrie who dominated the decider to earn the biggest victory of his career 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

"I’ve been really enjoying my tennis and been enjoying being out on court and competing in the big moments," Norrie said.

"I’m just really pleased with how I handled the occasion.

"I think I’m doing a lot better with that this year.

"I lost a lot of those finals, so it’s nice to get the big one today."