Wouldn't common sense dictate NOT carrying that added pressure to perform, specially when you have a far bigger fish to fry - to exact meaningful juice that will stand the test of time?
Miami Heat (NBA) were just recently on a 27-game winning streak threatening the all-time record of 33 set by Lakers back in 1972. Once it was snapped, most players on the team expressed relief as it allowed them to focus on the bigger fish of winning the Championship with far more single-mindedness than what the streak was 'allowing'.
Unless Nadal has totally given up on the bigger fish called 17, you can't help but consider the pressure a hindrance rather than any help. You also have to factor in the injury break of 7 months to fully appreciate the massive significance these tournaments leading up to Roland Garros suddenly assume - without the streak. Streak makes it that much more difficult to absorb the loss and compartmentalize it with enough separation to NOT impact what happens on the big stage in France. It just adds another whammy to what a loss would entail under regular conditions.
Winning 9th straight Monte Carlo, heck 10th, cannot match eight Roland Garros titles and the subsequent climb on the Slam totem pole - passing at least Borg, for starters.
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