Can They Do the Sunshine Double? Sinner and Sabalenka Chase History at Miami Open
After Indian Wells glory, the world’s best return to the court for back-to-back 1000-level showdowns—and a place in tennis immortality
Published: March 16, 2026 | 4 min read
MIAMI — The desert is conquered. The sun has shifted east. And tennis’s biggest question now burns under the Florida sun:
Can they do it again?
Fresh off their Indian Wells triumphs, world No.1 Aryna Sabalenka and world No.2 Jannik Sinner arrive in Miami with history on their minds. Win here, and they join an exclusive club: the “Sunshine Double.”
Back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami. Two weeks. Two 1000-level tournaments. One statement.
The Sunshine Double
| Player | Year(s) | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 1994, 1996 | First to complete the double |
| Kim Clijsters | 2005 | Belgian legend |
| Victoria Azarenka | 2016 | Belarusian powerhouse |
| Iga Swiatek | 2022 | Most recent women’s winner |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 2026? | Chasing history |
| Jannik Sinner | 2026? | Chasing history |
Only four women have ever done it. No man has done it since Roger Federer in 2017 .
Martina Navratilova, who won the first Miami Open in 1985, explained why it’s so rare:
“It’s just because it’s tough fields, the biggest and the best. And then there’s the adjustment as far as weather and the courts. It just weighs you down. With back-to-back two-week events, it’s tough to stay on top of it for so long, physically or emotionally. It’s a longer stretch of engagement.”
Sabalenka
Sabalenka arrives in Miami riding the highest high of her career.
| Recent Wins | Details |
|---|---|
| Indian Wells final | Defeated Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) |
| Australian Open | Runner-up (lost to Rybakina) |
| Engagement | To Georgios Frangulis |
| New puppy | Added to the family |
The world No.1 dropped to her knees in the desert after finally conquering her Indian Wells demons—two previous finals lost, including to Rybakina in 2023 .
Now she’s the defending champion in Miami. Win, and she joins Graf, Clijsters, Azarenka, and Swiatek in immortality.
Sinner
Jannik Sinner’s Indian Wells run was absurdly dominant.
| Stat | Sinner at Indian Wells 2026 |
|---|---|
| Sets dropped | 0 |
| Final opponent | Daniil Medvedev |
| Final score | 7-6(6), 7-6 |
| Titles won | 25th career, 22nd on hard courts |
The Italian hadn’t won Indian Wells before. Now he’s defending champion in Miami, chasing his own piece of history .
Sinner’s 2026 season started with an Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic, but he’s been nearly untouchable since.
The British Charge: Draper Leads the Way
Jack Draper will lead British hopes in Miami after a mixed start to 2026.
| Player | Recent Form |
|---|---|
| Jack Draper | Comeback from injury, early Dubai exit |
| Emma Raducanu | Struggling for consistency |
Draper’s return from a long-term arm injury has been cautious. His second-round loss in Dubai to Arthur Rinderknech showed flashes but also rust. Miami offers a chance to build momentum before the clay season .
Who Else Is Hunting Glory?
| Player | Storyline |
|---|---|
| Elena Rybakina | Revenge mission after Indian Wells final loss |
| Carlos Alcaraz | First loss of 2026 in Indian Wells semis |
| Daniil Medvedev | Back in top 10, playing best tennis in years |
| Coco Gauff | American hope, seeking first Miami title |
| Iga Swiatek | 2022 champion, quiet start to 2026 |
Rybakina, despite the Indian Wells loss, will rise to world No.2 next week. Her rivalry with Sabalenka is now the defining matchup in women’s tennis—9-7 head-to-head, and counting .
Alcaraz suffered his first loss of 2026 in the Indian Wells semifinals to Medvedev, ending a 16-match winning streak . The Spaniard will be desperate to reassert himself in Miami.
How to Watch
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Miami Open |
| Dates | March 17-30, 2026 |
| Venue | Hard Rock Stadium |
| Surface | Outdoor hard |
| TV (UK) | Sky Sports Tennis |
| Streaming | Sky Sports+, NOW |
Defending champions: Aryna Sabalenka (women), Jakub Mensik (men)
Two champions. Two chances at history. One hell of a two weeks.
Sabalenka is playing the best tennis of her life — engaged, happy, and unbeatable in big moments. Sinner hasn’t dropped a set in his last six matches and looks ready to dominate.
The Sunshine Double is rare for a reason. It takes everything—fitness, focus, luck, and nerve.
But if anyone can do it? These two look ready to try.