Cracking the world's top three is an immense achievement.
Sustaining that spot is even tougher.
More: Tsitsipas Stuns Djokovic
World No. 3 Alexander Zverev said staying power is a key to coping with pressure and his success this season.
"I think all the top guys feel more pressure because everybody is looking for them," Zverev told the media in Toronto. "Everybody is more excited to play them. You saw the reaction that Stefanos [Tsitsipas] had after he beat Novak [Djokovic]. He's not going to have that reaction beating any other player.
"So it's normal. That comes with it. And I think it's important to learn how to deal with it. I think I'm doing quite okay with it. After I got to the top 5, I stayed there, and hopefully I will stay there for many more years to come."
The 21-year-old Zverev pounded out a 6-2, 6-4, sweep of 19-year-old Greek sensation Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to successfully defending his Washington, DC title last weekend.
The pair square off again today in the Toronto quarterfinals.
Former world No. 1 Martina Hingis famously remarked "It's always easier being the hunter than the hunted."
Reigning Rogers Cup champion Zverev said it will be interesting to see how young guns Tsitsipas and Denis Shapovalov adjust to increased expectation.
"Of course there's a period where you go through where it changes," Zverev said. "That will change for Denis. It will change for Stefanos. I think everybody will have to go through that.
"Right now they're still playing freely. Right now they're still the youngest guys on tour. Right now they don't have any pressure. And, you know, it's going to be interesting to see when they start feeling that they're the hunted and they're the ones that everybody is looking out for, how it will affect them."
Photo credit: Christopher Levy