Miami
Sinner and Sabalenka are in sync under the sun! The story of “Sunshine Doubles” in 2026
ATP star Sinner and WTA number one Sabalenka have both accomplished the feat this year
March 30, 2026
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka each won the Sunshine Doubles title in Miami.
Written by ATP Staff
Neither Jannik Sinner nor Aryna Sabalenka will forget March 2026 easily.
PIF ATP No. 2 Sinner defeated Jiri Lehecka to lift the trophy at the Miami Open presented by Itau on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. In the process, he completed the coveted “Sunshine Double” for the first time with WTA rival Sabalenka.
The Sunshine Double, which refers to winning the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open hosted by ETA in the same year, is one of the toughest achievements in tennis. Given the difference in conditions from the California desert of Indian Wells to the hot and humid conditions of Miami, players must demonstrate elite adaptability to conquer both countries in succession.
This year, however, Sinner and Sabalenka didn’t seem to have any trouble in either match. WTA world number one Sabalenka dropped just one set against Elena Rybakina in the final on her way to winning the Indian Wells title. She repeated the feat in Miami, winning again in straight sets and then defeating Coco Gauff in three sets in the championship match.
On Sunday night, with two trophies already in hand, Sabalenka sat back and watched Sinner complete her “Sunshine Double” on television. When the Italian volleyed down Jiri Lehka in the men’s final, Sabalenka posted on Instagram: “Forza Jannik Sinner, Sunshine Double.”
Didn’t stop him 😤
Sinner wins Sunshine Double Crown for the first time👊
He was the first Italian to achieve the feat and became the first player since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the Sunshine Double…@bnpparibasopen | @miamiopen pic.twitter.com/RB2Cv83iMH
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 29, 2026
It’s worth noting that Sinner’s title runs in Indian Wells and Miami were even more dominant than Sabalenka’s. The 24-year-old Italian player did not drop a set in two tournaments, becoming the first player to do so. With the victory, Sinner became the eighth man to complete the Sunshine Double and the first woman to accomplish the feat since Roger Federer in 2017, while Sabalenka was only the fifth woman to achieve the feat and the first since Iga Swiatek in 2022.
Meanwhile, Sinner and Sabalenka’s results in March marked the fourth time an ATP player and a WTA player have completed the Sunshine Double in the same year. The first happened in 1994, when Pete Sampras and Steffi Graf won in Indian Wells and Miami respectively. In 2005, Federer and Kim Clijsters won both events, while in 2016 Novak Djokovic and Victoria Azarenka both won the Sunshine Double.
