"Two-week Masters 1000 tournaments are tough: the day off breaks the rhythm and lowers the level of play," says Shelton

Ben Shelton advanced to the quarterfinals of the Toronto Masters 1000 by defeating Flavio Cobolli in a third-set tiebreak.

In the post-match press conference, the American also criticized the two-week Masters 1000 format.

He stated: "Even though my tennis adapts well to these hot and humid conditions, not playing in this kind of environment year-round can require a long adjustment period.

Last week, I went to Washington for the importance of that tournament, but I was physically and mentally exhausted. I thought that by playing a few matches, I’d see the benefits this week, and that’s exactly what happened.

It’s tough to compete in two-week tournaments because the day off in between breaks the rhythm. It lowers the level of play—we all talk about it in the locker room.

When you play two or three days in a row, you find a consistent rhythm and greater confidence in your game."

Shelton will face Alex de Minaur for a spot in the semifinals of the Canadian Masters 1000.