A Sunshine Double in tennis is when a player wins both the Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the same season.
In the ATP tournament, Novak Djokovic has won the Sunshine Doubles four times for men, while Steffi Graf holds the women’s record with two.
Recent Sunshine Double winners are Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka in 2026.
Because Indian Wells and Miami are played in consecutive weeks in the United States, players must maintain elite form across two separate Masters/WTA 1000 events, often against the strongest tennis courts.
In this guide, you will find:
- What the Sunshine Double means in tennis
- Full list of Sunshine Double Winners
- Which ATP and WTA players have finished
- Why is it considered one of the hardest doubles in the game
What is the Sunshine Double in Tennis?
I Sunshine Double means the player who wins both:
of same season.
These two competitions are often grouped together because they are held together March and is among the most prestigious events outside of the Grand Slams.
On the ATP Tour, both are Masters 1000 tournaments, while on the WTA Tour both are. WTA 1000 events.
Winning one is difficult, but winning two in consecutive weeks is very rare.
Men’s Doubles (ATP)
Only a small number of players in ATP history have managed to complete the Sunshine Double, the latest being Jannik Sinner in 2026.
The following ATP players have completed the Sunshine Double in singles tennis.
| The player | Years |
|---|---|
| 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 are Double Suns
Novak Djokovic holds the men’s record with four Sunshine Doubles, followed by Roger Federer with three, including an impressive run in 2017.
| The 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 WTA Doubles
The Sunshine Double has also been completed by several of the greatest female players in tennis history, most recently Aryna Sabalenka in 2026.
The WTA has seen fewer repeat winners than the ATP, highlighting how competitive the women’s game has become at these events.
Below is the complete list of WTA players who will win Indian Wells and Miami in the same season.
| The player | Years |
|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 1994, 1996 |
| Kim Clijsters | 2005 |
| Victoria Azarenka | 2016 |
| Iga Swiatek | 2022 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 2026 |
Women’s Double Sunshine
Steffi Graf remains the only woman to have completed the Sunshine Double more than once.
| The player | Sunshine Doubles |
|---|---|
| Steffi Graf | 2 |
| Kim Clijsters | 1 |
| Victoria Azarenka | 1 |
| Iga Swiatek | 1 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | 1 |
Why Is The Sun’s Light So Multiplied?
Winning the Sunshine Double is rare because the players have to win two major tournaments in consecutive weeks.
Here are the main reasons why it is so difficult:
1. Elite Fields
Both Indian Wells and Miami often attract the strongest ATP and WTA players in the world.
2. Minimum Recovery Time
Players often have a short transition between two events, especially when they go deep into Indian Wells.
3. Different Situations
Although both tournaments are played on hard courts, the playing conditions are not the same.
- Indian Sources usually slow and heavy
- Miami it is usually fast and very humid
This means that players have to adapt quickly while staying physically fresh.
4. Mental fatigue
Winning one major title can bring emotional and physical exhaustion, making it even more difficult to stay locked in for a second event.
Sunshine Double Winners a year
Below is a quick chronological list of Sunshine Double winners in singles tennis from 1991 to 2026.
| A 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 Doubles are counted separately, so some years only have an ATP or WTA winner.
What tournaments make up the Sunshine Double?
Sunshine Double contains:
- BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells)
- The Miami Open
These are considered the two biggest hard court tournaments outside of the Grand Slams.
They are often seen as a major trial before the clay court era.
Is Sunshine Twice as Hard as Winning a Grand Slam?
It’s not – but it’s definitely one of the hardest non-Grand Slam achievements in tennis.
A Grand Slam requires seven wins in two weeks, while a Sunshine Double usually requires:
- Winning Indian Wells
- A quick trip to Miami
- Adapting to new situations
- Winning another major title
That combination of travel, fatigue, and high-level opposition makes it one of the most difficult feats in sports.
Final thoughts
I Sunshine Double it is one of the rarest and most impressive achievements in tennis.
Only a few legends are similar Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Steffi Grafand Iga Swiatek managed to win both Indian Wells and Miami in the same year.
Because of the quality of the opposition and the short turnaround between tournaments, completing the Sunshine Double is always a strong sign of dominance on hard courts.
For many players, it is one of the clearest signs that they are at their peak.
