One of the most popular goals for any professional tennis player is to become Number 1 in the world.  There is something special about getting to say that at some juncture in time, one was officially considered the top player on the planet.  But as any player who has reached the pinnacle will attest, getting there is only half the battle.  Backing it up and staying there is the other and often more difficult part of the equation, something it would appear Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber are finding out all too well.

There are a number of fellow competitors who would dearly love to be in the position of Murray and Kerber.  Both will be world no. 1 when Indian Wells comes to a close.  Both made the second week of the Australian Open, and in Andy Murray's case, he has a finalist appearance in Doha and secured a title in Dubai.  Murray and Kerber are not just any players, however.  They are a pair of major champions coming off of the best season of their respective careers.  That is why Kerber's lackluster results, including a fourth-round exit in Melbourne where she was defending champion, was so disappointing.  It is also why heads have been shaking over Murray's premature Round of 16 loss in Melbourne and near-quarterfinal defeat in Dubai.  Now after unceremoniously being dumped out of Indian Wells they head to Miami desperately in need of some answers to what has currently been a discouraging 2017.

A player's ability to locate those answers and somehow thrive under the weight of expectations that come with being top dog depends a lot on the individual player's mindset.  Here, Kerber and Murray may be at a bit of a disadvantage.  They are two of the oldest players to have ever become Number 1 for the first time in their careers.  As such, they have spent the bulk of their time as professionals being the hunter, not the hunted.  Additionally, given the dominance of Serena Williams as well as the other members of the Big 4, Kerber and Murray may have thought reaching Number 1 was not in the cards for them.  To have somehow defied the odds, not only makes their achievement that much sweeter but perhaps all the more of a shock to the system.

In addition to trying to cope with new pressures, Kerber and Murray might arguably feel greater need to prove their legitimacy.  Make no mistake.  They deserve to be Number 1.  Kerber had a phenomenal 2016 that included winning two majors and a finalist appearance at Wimbledon.  Murray delighted home fans by securing a second Wimbledon title, a second Gold Medal finish at the Olympics, and won the ATP World Tour Finals.  And yet, Kerber is undoubtedly bombarded with whispers about how Serena Williams is really the Number 1, and the fact that Williams' absence at Indian Wells and Miami has ensured Kerber will take over the top ranking irrespective of her performances this month has not helped.  Likewise, Murray has watched Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal steal the headlines with their superior results despite their lower rankings.  He has also benefited from the struggles of world no. 2 Novak Djokovic, a player who despite his own sub-par results, is still someone many pundits and fans believe has a likelier chance of righting the ship and enjoying further dominance. 

All told, there is a lot there for Kerber and Murray to be expected to manage.  New pressures and expectations naturally come with the territory, but there are ample mental demons as well, some of their own making, some not.  It is important for them to remember, however, that they did not get to Number 1 by accident.  They did it by putting in the hard yards and showing that they could come up with the goods when the chips were down.  They are major champions.  There is no reason why they cannot play that level of tennis again.  They can prove it to others, but most importantly, they must prove it to themselves.  A great tournament in Miami would go a long way towards doing that and putting them in a positive frame of mind heading into the clay season.