Washington Open: Badosa defeats Bouzkova to win fourth career title

Spanish wildcard Paula Badosa edged out Marie Bouzkova 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to win the Washington Open trophy at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center on Sunday afternoon.

The win sees Badosa claim her fourth career title and first since 2022, with the Spaniard improving to 4-0 in WTA Tour-level finals.

Bouzkova, on the other hand, falls to 1-6 in finals. The Czech gave Badosa a run for her money, however, fighting her way back into the match after a one-sided opening set.

She also managed to save 13 of 18 break points, but was unable to penetrate Badosa’s serve enough times. Badosa won 78 percent of first serve points and held serve on all but three occasions, despite serving up nine double faults across the match.

The title – Badosa’s second at the WTA 500-level – sees her rocket 22 places up the rankings to No 40 in the world. The former world No 2 has had significant injury struggles over the past 18 months, but is now looking likely to be seeded at the Australian Open next year, and is an outside chance to make the top 32 before the US Open later this month.

Badosa, ranked No 62, defeated American Sofia Kenin (6-1, 7-6 (6)), Russian Liudmila Samsonova, the No 3 seed (6-2 ret.), wildcard Emma Raducanu (4-6, 7-5, 6-4) and American Caroline Dolehide (6-3, 6-3) earlier in the tournament.

In the previous rounds of the Washington tournament, Bouzkova, ranked No 43, beat American qualifier McCartney Kessler (6-4, 4-6, 6-2), American Taylor Townsend (7-5, 7-6 (8)), American wildcard Robin Montgomery (6-3, 6-1) and Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka, the top seed (6-4, 3-6, 6-3).

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