Sabalenka and Sinner Serve Up Sunshine Swing Double

By Alex Sharp

Feet up in front of the TV, Aryna Sabalenka took to Instagram to share a video clip of her ATP counterpart matching her immense accomplishment. 

The world No.1 posted ‘Forza Jannik Sinner, Sunshine Double.’ 

Game recognises game. 

So, what happened? Winning the March calendar blockbuster billing of Indian Wells and the Miami Open has been hailed as the Sunshine Double, which is exactly what Sabalenka and Sinner have been celebrating.

The major champions, who have four Grand Slams each, have frequently triumphed together – just like Cincinnati 2024!  

The switch from the dry heat of the Californian desert at Indian Wells, over to the energy-zapping humidity of Miami, makes the Sunshine Swing on of the most arduous challenges in tennis.  

Sabalenka and Sinner adapted and unleashed an unanswerable level of tennis across both events.  

World No. 1 Sabalenka dropped just one set at Indian Wells, which came in a match-point saving 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) final thriller versus Elena Rybakina. The dominance diverted to the 305, dismantling five opponents in straight sets. Sabalenka blazed into the Miami silverware showdown for an edge-of-the-seat 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Florida-born Coco Gauff.  

The 27-year-old will never, ever, forget her trip stateside in March 2026… 

“I don’t know what can be better than this month. Dog, engagement, Sunshine Double. It’s crazy,” stated the world No.1 in Miami. “I didn’t have a moment to stop and realise what just happened to me in March, but it was definitely the best month of my life.” 

The WTA standard bearer now calls upon a 23-1 record this season, having collected 10^th and 11^th WTA 1000 titles. The Hall of Fame accolades keep on coming for Sabalenka, joining Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and most recently Iga Swiatek (2022) as the only women to secure a Sunshine Double. Sabalenka is compiling quite the legacy.  

“It’s unreal… I’m not even close to the legends,” said Sabalenka in Florida. 

“It means a lot. My goal always been to put my name in history, and I just did it. It just sounds so unreal. I don’t know how I was able to achieve that, but I’m super proud right now.” 

It doesn’t seem possible, but with astonishing, ruthless consistency, Sinner was even more dominant than Sabalenka on the Sunshine Swing. The World No. 2 didn’t relinquish a set across either tournament.  

A re-energised Daniil Medvedev toppled world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semi-finals, but couldn’t knock the Italian off kilter in a mesmerising 7-6(6), 7-6(4) final scoreline for Sinner. The Miami Open final scoreboard read 6-4, 6-4, having nullified the threat of Czech powerhouse Jiri Lehecka. ‘The Fox’ is the first men’s Sunshine Double champion since Roger Federer in 2017. 

The merciless tennis kept all at bay in Miami. The 24-year-old dropped his serve just once across his six matches and extended his mind-boggling record to 34 successive sets won at the Masters 1000 tier. Paris, Indian Wells, Miami – Sinner has claimed the past three Masters 1000s without dropping a set. 

“It has been an incredible US swing for me,” said Sinner. “I’m extremely happy, we did a lot of work to be in this position. 

“It means a lot to me. Winning the Sunshine Double for the first time, it’s incredible. It’s something I never would’ve thought to win because it’s so, so difficult to achieve. We made it somehow, so I’m very happy.” 

Alcaraz’s Miami third round 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 loss to rejuvenated Sebastian Korda wasn’t alarming as the American was red lining. On the flip side, Sinner has moved within 1200 ranking points of his Spanish rival at the top of the ATP rankings.  

“I think it’s all individual, our sport, that it’s very tough,” mused Sinner in Miami. “The big picture for me is depending on how I play, and that should be the ranking, no? Carlos, he has been so consistent for so, so long. Now we go on clay, where we all know how strong he is there.” 

Sabalenka and Sinner marked just the fourth time ever that a WTA and ATP player have captured the Sunshine Double in the same season. Victoria Azarenka with Novak Djokovic were the last duo to clinch both titles together in 2016.  

Such clutch composure, such conviction in their striking. It’s going to take an almighty effort from the chasing pack to derail these Sunshine Double champions on the upcoming clay campaigns.