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Doing the 'double'... in the fifth major

April 01, 2014 11:42 IST
Novak Djokovic of Serbia holds the winner's trophy after winning the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center

The 'Indian Wells - Miami' tournaments are often labelled as the fifth major, and players take pride in achieving the double. Novak Djokovic accomplished the feat on Sunday.

They are the two biggest tournaments after the four majors.

Staged back-to-back, both are considered the 'fifth major'.

However, which of Indian Wells and Miami could be officially bestowed that status is yet to be decided. Both the prestigious tournaments are played on the same surface (hardcourt).

For the top players, though, winning either event is one of the targets for the year, while winning both is palpably considered prestigious.

Novak Djokovic's 6-3, 6-3 demolition of Rafael Nadal in the Miami final on Sunday ensured he completed the 'double' this year, the Serb having beaten Roger Federer to the Indian Wells title a couple of weeks back.

It was for the second time in his career that Djokovic lifted both trophies the same year, having also achieved the feat in 2011, when he became seventh player to do the same.

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Courier first achieved it in 1991

April 01, 2014 11:42 IST
Jim Courier of the United States celebrates winning a match

Jim Courier

The former world No.1 was the first to achieve the same, completing the feat back in 1991.

Having got past Frenchman Guy Forget in five sets in the Indian Wells final, Jim Courier bested compatriot David Wheaton at Miami to achieve the double.

The dual wins were the first of his five career Masters Series titles.

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Chang replicated Courier's feat the following year

April 01, 2014 11:42 IST
Michael Chang of the United States poses with the trophy during the Newsweek Cup in Indian Wells

Michael Chang

Michael Chang followed in Jim Courier's steps in the following year.

It was fairly easy for the American though.

Having beaten Russian Andrei Chesnokov at Indian Wells, Chang broke no sweat either in the Miami final against Argentina's Alberto Mancini.

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Sampras did it in 1994

April 01, 2014 11:42 IST
Pete Sampras celebrates his win at the Tennis Center of Crandon Park

Pete Sampras

Pete Sampras achieved the grand double in 1994.

The American needed five sets to take out Czech Petr Korda in the Indian Wells, while coming back from a set down to beat compatriot and arch rival Andre Agassi in the Miami final.

Sampras won at Indian Wells again the following year but Agassi prevented him from completing a second double.

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Rios achieved the double in 1998

April 01, 2014 11:42 IST
Marcelo Rios of Chile at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, in Miami

Marcelo Rios

Marcelo Rios achieved the double in 1998.

The Chilean survived Briton Greg Rusedski's thunderbolts to win the Indian Wells final in four sets.

In Miami, though, he had it easy, beating Andre Agassi in straight sets.

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Agassi did it on his third attempt

April 01, 2014 11:42 IST
Andre Agassi poses for photographers with the winner's trophy in Miami

Andre Agassi

Andre Agassi was dominant at Miami, winning the tournament on six occasions.

However, the American took a lot of time to open his account in Indian Wells.

Having lost out on the double on two previous occasions (1990 and 1995), Agassi finally achieved the feat in 2001.

He beat compatriots Sampras (Indian Wells) and Jan-Michael Gambill (Miami) en route, winning both the matches in three straight sets.

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Federer was the first to do it twice over

April 01, 2014 11:42 IST
Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates after winning

Roger Federer

Roger Federer became the sixth player to achieve the double in 2005, and the first to do it twice over the following year.

The Swiss, however, has failed to win in Miami since 2006.

Federer did win at Indian Wells in 2012, picking up his fourth title in the event.