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How lengthy has it been since a tennis participant managed to finish the Sunshine Doubles, successful the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells and the Miami Open? Easy reply: it has been lacking since 2017, when Roger Federer succeeded.
There have been 11 different instances of double victory in addition to that of the Swiss Maestro. Main the best way on this particular record is Novak Djokovic who has achieved this feat 4 instances. Roger Federer is in second place on this statistic, as he has achieved this feat thrice.
The opposite of the Large 3 that dominated tennis is totally lacking, as a result of Rafael Nadal not solely by no means made this double win, however he by no means gained the Miami event, throughout his profession.
The Indian Wells-Miami double win, as talked about, has been achieved 12 instances in historical past and seven gamers have achieved it. Novak Djokovic is aiming for his fifth double and to strengthen his management on this rating, on condition that he has already achieved it in 2011 and for 3 years in a row from 2014 to 2016.
Roger Federer ended his profession with 3 successful pairs, having gained each tournaments in 2005, 2006 and 2017 which can also be the final yr during which the Sunshine Doubles was hit. However there are 5 different gamers who’ve achieved it a minimum of as soon as.
Jim Courier in 1991, Michael Chang in 1992, Pete Sampras in 1994, Marcelo Rios in 1998 and Andre Agassi in 2001.
The BNP Paribas Open begins at present, Wednesday 6 March 2024, the primary ATP Grasp 1000 of the season to be performed on the Californian hard-courts of Indian Wells. The Sunshine Doubles will probably be accomplished with the Miami Open, the second ATP Grasp 1000 of the yr, which can start following Indian Wells on the laborious courts of Florida. The 2 occasions in California and Florida are performed near the lengthy European clay courtroom season.
Djokovic cannot wait to play Indian Wells
“Greetings to all tennis followers from the BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, California. It is 2024 and the final time I performed this event was in 2019. 5 lengthy years have handed, too lengthy with out being a part of the Tennis Paradise event.
Among the best tournaments on this planet indisputably, in all probability the favourite Masters 1000 of many gamers, together with myself. I am unable to wait to come back again and play in entrance of a number of the finest followers we now have on Tour once more. I feel again to 2008, the primary time I gained the title at Indian Wells – one of many greatest successes of my profession at the moment .
I bear in mind taking part in in opposition to Fish within the closing. I used to be fortunate to have gained the event 4 extra instances taking part in some epic matches within the closing in opposition to Federer and Nadal. I am actually trying ahead to coming again.”
Djokovic cannot wait to return to compete in a event that he has gained 5 instances in his profession. From the primary success obtained in 2008 by beating Mardy Fish to the epic finals in opposition to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal: Djokovic remembered a few of his most necessary victories.
5 years have handed since Novak Djokovic final performed a match in Indian Wells. The pause imposed by the pandemic, the choice to maneuver the event to October 2021 and the entry guidelines in drive in the USA over the last two editions have by some means hindered the presence of the Serbian champion.
However just some hours earlier than the beginning of Indian Wells, Nole is already certain of a minimum of one end line. In truth, with Carlos Alcaraz’s harm in Rio de Janeiro and the Spanish participant’s consequent withdrawal from the event, Djokovic is in the meantime certain of remaining world no 1 a minimum of till Monday 1 April 2024, the date of launch of the rating after the ATP Grasp 1000 of Miami, second appointment of the Sunshine Double which opens with the Indian Wells event.
Alcaraz misplaced the 300 factors of final yr’s closing in Rio de Janeiro and as a result of heavy factors that he has to defend between Indian Wells and Miami, mathematically he can’t attain Djokovic.
Djokovic can have every part to achieve and nothing to lose, on condition that final yr, resulting from his unvaccinated standing, he was unable to journey to the USA to play the 2 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.
Djokovic is already the participant who has at the moment been no 1 on this planet for essentially the most weeks within the historical past of tennis.
And curiosity has it that with this certainty of remaining on the high of the rankings till a minimum of April 1st, he’ll attain 418 weeks. A double outcome in comparison with Rafael Nadal, who was ATP No.1 for 209 weeks in his profession, precisely half.
Second place for Roger Federer, no 1 within the ATP rating for 310 weeks. Third place for Pete Sampras with 286 weeks. Adopted within the top-10 in fourth place is Ivan Lendl with 270. Fifth Jimmy Connors with 268. Sixth Rafael Nadal with 209. Seventh John McEnroe with 170, then eighth Bjorn Borg with 109. Andre Agassi ninth with 101. The highest rating closes 10 Lleyton Hewitt, with 80 weeks.
