Carlos Alcaraz’s coach, Samuel Lopez, recently shared some insight into the world No. 1’s plans for the upcoming clay season. Alcaraz is aiming to start strong at the Monte-Carlo Masters and hopes to hit his peak by the time Roland Garros arrives.

After a tough run during the Sunshine Double, where he left without any titles, Alcaraz is gearing up for the clay swing. At Indian Wells, Medvedev’s aggressive play proved too much, and then at Miami, Sebastian Korda knocked him out in the Round of 32. It was a rare setback for the top star, prompting him to head home for a break before Monte-Carlo, which kicks off on April 5.

Before the season really takes off, Lopez revealed that Alcaraz plans to compete in Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, and Roland-Garros after Monte-Carlo. Lopez also mentioned that if things had gone better in Miami, they might have skipped Monte-Carlo altogether. But given the current situation, Monte-Carlo will act more as a tune-up event.

“We’re going in with the idea of playing everything, the full clay swing. Monte Carlo wasn’t initially part of the plan if Miami had gone well. But now, it’s more about preparation, Lopez said in an interview with Eurosport ES.

Alcaraz will defend his Monte-Carlo title and try to set the tone for the rest of the clay season. Lopez emphasised that the ultimate goal is for him to be in the best possible shape for Roland Garros, with an eye on clinching a third French Open victory.

“Preparation tournaments help you find your rhythm fast. For us, Monte Carlo is similar to last year’s approach. Last year, everything fell into place, and he won. But the first clay event is tough for almost everyone, as it’s their first on this surface. So, the priority is managing the schedule and arriving in top form at Roland Garros. We’ll see how it goes,” Lopez added.

The qualifying rounds for Monte-Carlo start on April 4, and the main draw begins on April 6. Alcaraz’s first opponent hasn’t been decided yet. Besides defending his title, this tournament is crucial for him as his ranking points are on the line.

Meanwhile, his main rival, Jannik Sinner, made the most of the Sunshine Double, winning both Indian Wells and Miami, dominating Medvedev and Jiri Lehecka along the way. This achievement has made Sinner just 1,190 points shy of Alcaraz in the rankings. With both players set to compete in Monte-Carlo, their battle for the top spot could come down to the final match.

If they both reach the final, whoever wins will claim No. 1 in the world.

Despite their rivalry, Alcaraz took a moment to congratulate Sinner on his Sunshine Double success. He shared a message on Instagram, writing:

“Congratulations @janniksin and team for winning Sunshine Double.”

The two have faced off 16 times, with Alcaraz holding a 10-6 lead. When it comes to major titles, Alcaraz’s 15 to Sinner’s 13 reflect just how close their competition remains.

Aryna Sabalenka, kicking back with her feet up in front of the TV, shared a clip on Instagram celebrating a remarkable achievement matched by her ATP counterpart. She posted, “Forza Jannik Sinner, Sunshine Double.” When you’re a player of her calibre, you recognise excellence when you see it.

So, what’s the story here? Winning both the Indian Wells and Miami Open in March is known as completing the Sunshine Double, a feat that both Sabalenka and Sinner have recently accomplished and are now rightfully celebrating.

These two major champions, each holding four Grand Slam titles, have often found success in tandem, as their recent victory in Cincinnati 2024 underscored.

What makes this accomplishment particularly tough is the shift from the dry heat of Indian Wells, located in the California desert, to the draining humidity of Miami. This back-to-back stretch, dubbed the Sunshine Swing, is one of tennis’s toughest tests.

Both Sabalenka and Sinner managed to adjust and deliver tennis at a level that was nearly untouchable throughout both events.

For Sabalenka, world No. 1, the Indian Wells run was dominant, with only one set dropped in a nail-biting final against Elena Rybakina, where she saved match points to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6). Then, shifting gears in Miami, she dismantled five opponents in straight sets before edging out Coco Gauff 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in a gripping final.

At 27, this trip to the States this March is something she won’t soon forget.

“I don’t know what could top this month. A new dog, my engagement, and the Sunshine Double – it’s wild,” Sabalenka reflected in Miami. “Honestly, I hadn’t had a chance to really process everything that happened in March, but it’s definitely the best month of my life.”

With this run, Sabalenka has now notched a 23-1 record this season, claiming her 10th and 11th WTA 1000 titles. Her growing collection links her with legends like Steffi Graf, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka, and the recent Iga Swiatek (2022), as they are the only women to have achieved the Sunshine Double. It’s clear Sabalenka is building an impressive legacy.

“It feels unreal... I’m nowhere near those legends yet,” she admitted in Florida. “But it means a lot. My goal has always been to make a mark in history, and now I have. It still sounds incredible. I’m not sure how I pulled it off, but I’m very proud.”

On the men’s side, Sinner’s consistency on the Sunshine Swing was even more striking. The world No. 2 went through both tournaments without dropping a single set.

He faced a rejuvenated Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells semifinals, who had upset No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, but Sinner held firm in an intense 7-6(6), 7-6(4) final. In Miami, he beat the Czech contender Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4, clinching the Sunshine Double and becoming the first male player to do so since Roger Federer in 2017.

His dominance in Miami was especially remarkable. Across six matches, Sinner lost his serve only once and extended his extraordinary streak to 34 consecutive sets won at the Masters 1000 level. Paris, Indian Wells and Miami, the last three Masters 1000 events, have seen him undefeated in sets.

“It’s been an incredible US swing for me,” Sinner said. “I’m really happy because we worked hard to get here. Winning the Sunshine Double for the first time means a lot; it’s something I never imagined I’d achieve because it’s incredibly tough. Somehow, we did it, and I’m very happy.”

Alcaraz’s loss in the Miami third round to Sebastian Korda wasn’t too surprising given the circumstances; Korda was playing at a high level. Meanwhile, Sinner is closing the gap to Alcaraz by about 1200 ranking points atop the ATP standings.

Sinner shared his perspective in Miami: “It’s all very personal in our sport, and it’s tough. For me, the ranking should reflect performance. Carlos has been incredibly consistent for a long time. Now we head into clay season, where we all know how strong he is.”

Sabalenka and Sinner’s joint achievement marks only the fourth time in history that a WTA and ATP player have completed the Sunshine Double in the same season. The last pair to do this were Victoria Azarenka and Novak Djokovic back in 2016.

Their composure under pressure and confidence in their shot-making signal one thing: the chase on the clay courts ahead will demand extraordinary efforts from anyone aiming to unseat these Sunshine Double champions.