And there’s more.
Sabalenka is just the second woman ever to win the Sunshine Double as world No. 1, and with all of the pressure that comes along with that.
The only other woman ever to achieve that feat is Steffi Graf, who was ranked No. 1 during both of her Sunshine Double sweeps in 1994 and 1996—in fact, she was ranked No. 1 for the entirety of both of those years.
Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek weren’t too far away when they won their Sunshine Doubles—Azarenka was No. 15 during Indian Wells and No. 8 in Miami, while Swiatek was No. 4 in Indian Wells and No. 2 in Miami.
Incredibly, Kim Clijsters went into the Sunshine Swing in 2005 ranked No. 133—yes, No. 133—as she was coming back from a wrist injury that had ruined her 2004 season. She was also unseeded and had to win seven matches en route to both titles. She soared from No. 133 to No. 38 after winning Indian Wells, and from No. 38 to No. 17 after winning Miami.
