Published: 09:51, March 30, 2026
Sinner beats Lehecka in rain-hit Miami final to capture 'Sunshine Double'
By Reuters
Jannik Sinner of Italy celebratres match point against Jiri Lehecka of Czechia during the Men's Singles Final of the Miami Open Presented by Itau at Hard Rock Stadium on March 29, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (PHOTO / AFP)

Jannik Sinner beat Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-4 6-4 in a rain-hit Miami Open final on Sunday to become the first man to complete the coveted 'Sunshine Double' without ​dropping a set.

The Italian world number two won 92 percent of his first-serve points ‌and saved all three break points he faced en route to a victory that extended his string of Masters 1000 matches without dropping a set to 17.

"We did a lot of work to be ​in this position, so I'm really, really happy, and I'm also happy to ​go back home now," Sinner said after the match.

"Making here the Sunshine ⁠Double here for the first time, it's incredible. It's something I would have never ​thought, because it's also difficult to achieve, and yeah, we made it somehow, so I'm ​very happy."

Sinner, who played around with a soccer ball ahead of a match that was delayed by about 90 minutes due to rain, broke early for a 3-1 lead and then leaned on his ​serve to close out the opening set with a hold at love.

The rain returned during ​the opening game of the second set, forcing players off the court for about 90 minutes, during ‌which ⁠Sinner again kept loose with a soccer ball that he passed around with members of his team.

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World number 22 Lehecka, playing in his first Masters 1000 final, fought off five break points over a pair of service games in the second set followed by a ​hold at love to ​go 4-3 up ⁠before Sinner took over.

Sinner made good on his sixth break point opportunity of the second set to pull ahead 5-4 and then ​closed it out on his serve when he sent a forehand ​volley to the ⁠open court on his first championship point.

Sinner is the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to win the Indian Wells and Miami titles back-to-back, a feat known as the 'Sunshine Double' ⁠given ​the tournaments' respective locations in California and Florida.

By doing ​so, Sinner joins a club that, in addition to Federer, also includes Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, Marcelo Rios, Pete ​Sampras, Michael Chang and Jim Courier.