Tennis-Badosa gets that winning feeling for first title in two years

Aug 4, 2024; Washington, DC, USA; Paula Badosa (ESP) celebrates kisses the championship trophy after her match against Marie Bouzkova (CZE)(not pictured) in the women's singles final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

(Reuters) - Former world number two Paula Badosa said she felt like a top athlete again after putting her injury woes behind her to claim a first title in more than two years at the Washington Open.

Badosa reached her career-high ranking in 2022, a few months after capturing the title in Sydney, but the 26-year-old Spaniard drifted from the spotlight after a string of issues including a back injury that proved hard to overcome.