The Sunshine Double in tennis is when a player wins both Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same season.
On the ATP Tour, Novak Djokovic has won the most men’s Sunshine Doubles with four, while Steffi Graf holds the women’s record with two.
The most recent Sunshine Double winners are Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka in 2026.
Because Indian Wells and Miami are played in back-to-back weeks in the United States, players must maintain elite form across two different Masters/WTA 1000 events, often against the strongest fields in tennis.
In this guide, you’ll find:
- What the Sunshine Double means in tennis
- A full list of Sunshine Double winners
- Which ATP and WTA players have completed it
- Why it is considered one of the most difficult doubles in the sport
What Is the Sunshine Double in Tennis?
The Sunshine Double refers to a player winning both:
in the same season.
These two tournaments are often grouped together because they are held in March and are among the most prestigious events outside of the Grand Slams.
On the ATP Tour, they are both Masters 1000 tournaments, while on the WTA Tour they are both WTA 1000 events.
Winning one is difficult, but winning both in consecutive weeks is extremely rare.
Men’s Sunshine Double Winners (ATP)
Only a small number of players in ATP history have managed to complete the Sunshine Double, with the most recent being Jannik Sinner in 2026.
The following ATP players have completed the Sunshine Double in singles tennis.
| Player | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Jim Courier | 1991 |
| Michael Chang | 1992 |
| Pete Sampras | 1994 |
| Marcelo Ríos | 1998 |
| Andre Agassi | 2001 |
| Roger Federer | 2005, 2006, 2017 |
| Novak Djokovic | 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 2025 |
| Jannik Sinner | 2026 |
Most Men’s Sunshine Doubles
Novak Djokovic holds the men’s record with four Sunshine Doubles, followed by Roger Federer with three, including an impressive run in 2017.
| Player | Sunshine Doubles |
|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | 4 |
| Roger Federer | 3 |
| Jim Courier | 1 |
| Michael Chang | 1 |
| Pete Sampras | 1 |
| Marcelo Ríos | 1 |
| Andre Agassi | 1 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | 1 |
| Jannik Sinner | 1 |
Women’s Sunshine Double Winners (WTA)
The Sunshine Double has also been completed by several of the greatest women’s players in tennis history, with the most recent being Aryna Sabalenka in 2026.
The WTA has seen fewer repeat winners than the ATP, which highlights how competitive the women’s game has been in these events.
Below is the full list of WTA players to win Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.
| Player | Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 1994, 1996 |
| Kim Clijsters | 2005 |
| Victoria Azarenka | 2016 |
| Iga Swiatek | 2022 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 2026 |
Most Women’s Sunshine Doubles
Steffi Graf remains the only woman to complete the Sunshine Double more than once.
| Player | Sunshine Doubles |
|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 2 |
| Kim Clijsters | 1 |
| Victoria Azarenka | 1 |
| Iga Swiatek | 1 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 1 |
Why Is the Sunshine Double So Difficult?
Winning the Sunshine Double is rare because players must succeed in two major tournaments in consecutive weeks.
Here are the main reasons why it is so difficult:
1. Elite Fields
Both Indian Wells and Miami usually attract the strongest ATP and WTA players in the world.
2. Little Recovery Time
Players often have only a short turnaround between the two events, especially if they go deep in Indian Wells.
3. Different Conditions
Although both tournaments are played on hard courts, the playing conditions are not identical.
- Indian Wells is often slower and heavier
- Miami is usually faster and more humid
This means players must adapt quickly while staying physically fresh.
4. Mental Fatigue
Winning one big title can bring emotional and physical fatigue, making it even harder to stay locked in for the second event.
Sunshine Double Winners by Year
Below is a quick chronological list of Sunshine Double winners in singles tennis from 1991 to 2026.
| Year | Men | Women |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Jim Courier | — |
| 1992 | Michael Chang | — |
| 1994 | Pete Sampras | Steffi Graf |
| 1996 | — | Steffi Graf |
| 1998 | Marcelo Ríos | — |
| 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 | Aryna Sabalenka |
Note: The men’s and women’s Sunshine Double are counted separately, so some years have only an ATP or WTA winner.
Which Tournaments Make Up the Sunshine Double?
The Sunshine Double consists of:
- BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells)
- Miami Open
These are considered the two biggest hard-court tournaments outside of the Grand Slams.
They are often seen as a major test ahead of the clay-court season.
Is the Sunshine Double More Difficult Than Winning a Grand Slam?
Not necessarily — but it is definitely one of the hardest non-Grand Slam achievements in tennis.
A Grand Slam requires seven match wins over two weeks, while the Sunshine Double usually requires:
- Winning Indian Wells
- Traveling immediately to Miami
- Adapting to new conditions
- Winning another major title
That combination of travel, fatigue, and top-level opposition makes it one of the toughest accomplishments in the sport.
Final Thoughts
The Sunshine Double is one of the rarest and most impressive achievements in tennis.
Only a handful of legends such as Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Steffi Graf, and Iga Swiatek have managed to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year.
Because of the quality of opposition and the short turnaround between tournaments, completing the Sunshine Double remains a strong marker of dominance on hard courts.
For many players, it is one of the clearest signs that they are at the peak of their powers.