Carlos Alcaraz is in California hoping to continue his hot start to 2026.
The Spaniard has started the new year by winning 12 matches in a row, resulting in victories at the Australian Open and Qatar Open.
Alcaraz has been told that there is a ‘question mark’ hanging over him. However, the Spaniard looks virtually unbeatable as things stand; even Jannik Sinner is struggling to keep pace with the 22-year-old.
Alcaraz’s attention is now fully focused on the ‘Sunshine Swing,’ which will take place across the next month in Indian Wells and Miami.
Which member of the ‘Big Three’ is Carlos Alcaraz most similar to? Let us know why below👇
And, if the Spaniard were to win both events, he would achieve a feat not witnessed on the ATP Tour since 2017.
Carlos Alcaraz could match Roger Federer’s feat by winning the ‘Sunshine Swing’ double
No ATP player has won Indian Wells and Miami in the same year since Roger Federer in 2017.
Federer began the swing by beating Stan Wawrinka in the Californian final, before travelling to Florida for the Miami Masters.
There, Djokovic beat Tomas Berdych, Nick Kyrgios, and Rafael Nadal on his way to the title.
Therefore, if Carlos Alcaraz wins Indian Wells and Miami this year, he will be the first to achieve the feat since Federer in 2017.
And who would bet against Alcaraz achieving this feat?
The 22-year-old is in the best form of his career and seems to be separating himself from the chasing pack with every passing match.
If Alcaraz does win both events, he may choose to skip one of the upcoming clay-court events in order to protect his physical and mental health ahead of the French Open.
| Year | Indian Wells Champion | Miami Champion |
| 2016 | Novak Djokovic | Novak Djokovic |
| 2017 | Roger Federer | Roger Federer |
| 2018 | Juan Martin del Potro | John Isner |
| 2019 | Dominic Thiem | Roger Federer |
| 2020 | NOT PLAYED | NOT PLAYED |
| 2021 | Cameron Norrie | Hubert Hurkacz |
| 2022 | Taylor Fritz | Carlos Alcaraz |
| 2023 | Carlos Alcaraz | Daniil Medvedev |
| 2024 | Carlos Alcaraz | Jannik Sinner |
| 2025 | Jack Draper | Jakub Mensik |
Roger Federer’s reaction to winning the 2017 Miami Masters
In the 2017 Miami Masters final, Roger Federer faced off against his great rival, Rafael Nadal.
Federer had beaten Nadal a few months earlier in the Australian Open final, and it was the same story again in Miami
Federer defeated his Spanish rival 6-3, 6-4 in Florida.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Federer said: “Yeah, look, I think it was a close match. Maybe if you didn’t see the match and you were sitting somewhere around the world and you see the score you’re like, Okay, sort of maybe just straightforward and couple breaks and that was it.
“That’s not the full story. I thought he had his chances in the first and in the second. It was close. I think on the big points today I was just a little bit better. Why, I have no explanation. I just think it fell that way today.
What would have happened if Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner played at the same time as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal?
“It was more of a fight mode I was in today just trying to stay afloat. Physically, emotionally it’s been a draining week, so I did I did very well.
“Great atmosphere again. A lot riding on the match of course. A lot has happened here in the last, I don’t know, it’s been 12, 13 years since I played Rafa the very first time here and in between.
“So it was a special match and it was great to play against Rafa again.”
