ATP/WTA : Sinner and Sabalenka dominate with Sunshine Double

Sinner unbeaten and unrelenting

In the case of Sinner, it was merciless efficiency from the world No.2.

The Italian kept Jiri Lehecka at bay 6-4, 6-4 in the business-like final, becoming the first man since Roger Federer (2017) to lift the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles in the same year. What about ruling both events without dropping a set? No man or women had managed such dominance until Sinner showed up this March!

In fact, Sinner has now collected the Rolex Paris Masters and ‘Sunshine Double’ all in a row and all without surrendering a single set. He’s now tallied a record-extending 34 consecutive Masters 1000 sets. These are era-defining numbers in the making.

“It has been an incredible US swing for me,” stated Sinner, shortly after capturing a seventh Masters 1000 title. “I’m extremely happy, we did a lot of work to be in this position.

“It means a lot to me. Winning the Sunshine Double for the first time, it’s incredible. It’s something I never would’ve thought to win because it’s so, so difficult to achieve. We made it somehow, so I’m very happy.”

Down the home straight (Sinner is a keen F1 fan) is where the 24-year-old rose to the occasion in Miami. The 26-time ATP titlist blazed past Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 6-2 in the Elite 8. Into the semi-finals and Sinner played the clutch moments with conviction to prevail past Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4), before overcoming Lehecka.

All fortnight in Florida Sinner had the answers, without truly competing in top gear, which is an ominous sign for his rivals heading out onto the clay swing.

Sabalenka with the month of a lifetime

Over to the WTA side and Sabalenka was equally as ruthless and relentless as Sinner to defend her Miami Open crown.

What a month it’s been for the world No.1 – with joy knowing no bounds with her engagement, a new puppy and the small matter of clinching the Sunshine Double. All has been achieved with Sabalenka’s trademark grin and ferocious fighting spirit.

The 27-year-old backed up her scintillating Indian Wells final triumph over Elena Rybakina with a 6-4, 6-3 scoreline to steer past the Kazakh at the semi-finals stage. Into the trophy tussle and Sabalenka played a catalogue of blazing shots to eventually down Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday in the 305.

In a similar vein to Sinner with mind-boggling stats, Sabalenka moves onto a 23-1 record this season, having won an 11th WTA 1000 title.

The Indian Wells and Miami combo launches Sabalenka into further greatness as just the fifth woman to achieve the Sunshine Double, joining Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and most recently, Iga Swiatek (2022).

“It’s unreal… I'm not even close to the legends," Sabalenka told reporters in Florida.

"It means a lot. My goal always been to put my name in history, and I just did it. It just sounds so unreal. I don't know how I was able to achieve that, but I'm super proud right now. Of course, super happy with this beautiful trophy."

In a golf kart conversation with the WTA following the exhilarating Miami final, Sabalenka opened up more regarding her drive and purpose.

“When I lost my father, I just set up a goal that I want to put our our family name in history, and that's been something that's been pushing me so hard every day to work hard, to become a better player and I also become a better person,” revealed the world No.1.

“That's my motivation, and also I would like to be an example of someone who has fun off the court, but also super focused when I'm competing.”

Of course, plenty of players added to the Miami Open script – whether it was Lehecka’s renaissance, Tiafoe being back on song, Martin Landaluce's emergence or Australian youngster Talia Gibson navigating into the Last 16 all the way from qualifying – nothing comes close to what Sinner and Sabalenka keep replicating, apart from the generational talent Carlos Alcaraz. They’re currently just built different.

Who can channel Sinner and Sabalenka to take charge on the clay campaigns?