A Sunshine Double in tennis is when a player wins both the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles in the same season.
On the ATP Tour, Novak Djokovic has won the most men’s Sunshine Doubles titles with four, while Steffi Graf has won the women’s doubles title with two.
The most recent Sunshine Double Champions are Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka in 2026.
With Indian Wells and Miami taking place in back-to-back weeks in the United States, players must maintain elite form at two different Masters/WTA 1000 events, often against the toughest opponents in tennis.
In this guide you’ll find:
- What does sunshine doubles mean in tennis
- full list Sunshine Double Champion
- Which ATP and WTA players have done it
- Why it is considered one of the most difficult doubles in the sport
What is sunshine doubles in tennis?
this Sunshine Double Room Refers to a player winning two of the following at the same time:
exist same season.
These two games are often lumped together because they were played in March It is one of the most prestigious tournaments outside the Grand Slams.
On the ATP Tour, they are both Masters 1000 events, and on the WTA Tour, they are WTA 1000 event.
Winning one of these games is difficult, but winning two in consecutive weeks is extremely rare.
Men’s Sunshine Double Champion (ATP)
Only a few players in ATP history have been able to complete the Sunshine Double, the most recent being Jannik Sinner in 2026.
The following ATP players have completed Tennis Singles Sunshine Doubles.
| player | Year) |
|---|---|
| Jim Courier | 1991 |
| Zhang Depei | 1992 |
| Pete Sampras | 1994 |
| Marcelo Rios | 1998 |
| Andre Agassi | 2001 |
| roger federer | 2005, 2006, 2017 |
| Novak Djokovic | 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 2025 |
| Jannik Sinner | 2026 |
The sunniest men’s doubles
Novak Djokovic holds the men’s record with four Sunshine Doubles, followed by Roger Federer with three, including an impressive performance in 2017.
| player | sunshine doubles |
|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 4 |
| roger federer | 3 |
| Jim Courier | 1 |
| Zhang Depei | 1 |
| Pete Sampras | 1 |
| Marcelo Rios | 1 |
| Andre Agassi | 1 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 1 |
| Jannik Sinner | 1 |
Women’s Sunshine Double Champion (WTA)
Sunshine Doubles have also been played by some of the greatest female players in tennis history, most recently Alina Sabalenka 2026.
The WTA has fewer repeat winners than the ATP, underscoring how competitive the women’s game is at these events.
Here is the complete list of WTA players who won Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.
| player | Year) |
|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 1994, 1996 |
| Kim Clijsters | 2005 |
| Victoria Azarenka | 2016 |
| Iga Swiatek | 2022 |
| Alina Sabalenka | 2026 |
The sunniest women’s doubles
Steffi Graf remains the only woman to have completed the Sunshine Double more than once.
| player | sunshine doubles |
|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 2 |
| Kim Clijsters | 1 |
| Victoria Azarenka | 1 |
| Iga Swiatek | 1 |
| Alina Sabalenka | 1 |
Why is Shuangyang so difficult?
Winning the Sunshine Double is rare because players have to succeed Attend two major events in consecutive weeks.
Here are the main reasons why it’s so difficult:
1. Elite fields
Indian Wells and Miami typically attract the best ATP and WTA players in the world.
2. Short recovery time
Players often only have a short turnaround time between events, especially if they’re deep into Indian Wells.
3. Different conditions
Although both events are played on hard courts, the playing conditions are not the same.
- indian wells Usually slower and heavier
- Miami Usually faster and wetter
This means players must adapt quickly while keeping their bodies fresh.
4. Mental fatigue
Winning a major title can be emotionally and physically taxing, making locking down a second event that much more difficult.
Annual Sunshine Win-Win Award
Here is a quick list of tennis singles Sunshine Double Champions from 1991 to 2026.
| Year | men | female |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Jim Courier | — |
| 1992 | Zhang Depei | — |
| 1994 | Pete Sampras | Steffi Graf |
| 1996 | — | Steffi Graf |
| 1998 | Marcelo Rios | — |
| 2001 | Andre Agassi | — |
| 2005 | roger federer | Kim Clijsters |
| 2006 | roger federer | — |
| 2011 | Novak Djokovic | — |
| 2014 | Novak Djokovic | — |
| 2015 | Novak Djokovic | — |
| 2016 | Novak Djokovic | Victoria Azarenka |
| 2017 | roger federer | — |
| 2022 | — | Iga Swiatek |
| 2025 | Carlos Alcaraz | — |
| 2026 | Jannik Sinner | Alina Sabalenka |
notes: The men’s and women’s Sunshine Doubles are counted separately, so some years there are only ATP or WTA champions.
What matches does the Sunshine Doubles consist of?
Sunshine Double Room includes:
- BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells)
- miami open
They are considered the two biggest hard-court tournaments outside the Grand Slams.
They are often seen as the big test before the clay court season.
Is sunshine twice as difficult as winning a Grand Slam?
Not necessarily – but it’s definitely one of the hardest Non-Grand Slam achievements In tennis.
Grand Slams require winning seven matches in two weeks, while Sunshine Doubles typically require:
- win indian wells
- Head to Miami Now
- adapt to new situations
- win another grand slam title
The combination of travel, fatigue and top opponents make it one of the toughest achievements in the sport.
final thoughts
this Sunshine Double Room It’s one of the rarest and most impressive achievements in tennis.
There are only a few legends, e.g. Novak Djokovic, roger federer, Steffi GrafIga Swiatek won Indian Wells and Miami in the same year.
Due to the quality of the opposition and the short turnaround between matches, completing a Sunshine Double remains a strong sign of dominance on the hard courts.
For many players, this is one of the clearest signs that they are at the peak of their powers.
