Daniil Medvedev ignites important rock, paper, scissors contest ahead of crucial point in Canadian Open doubles match

Daniil Medvedev and Fabian Marozsan had a unique way of deciding who would receive a crucial point in the Canadian Open doubles quarter-final match, opting to have a game of rock, paper, scissors to figure out who will be where.

The duo's tie against French pair Theo Arribage and Albano Olivetti was not completed in the end as the match was halted following the conclusion of the first set with rain delays halting the progress in Montreal.

Medvedev and Marozsan have the doubles as their only focus after being knocked out of the singles. They began with a 4-6, 6-4, 10-6 win over Canadian wildcards Liam Draxl and Cleeve Harper before a 7-6(5), 6-4 victory against Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin booked their spot in the quarter-finals.

The first set would not have any breaks of serve, and it was a bitter blow for Medvedev and Marozsan who squandered two set points ahead of the tiebreak. The second one was saved by the French team and it went to deuce once more.

Medvedev and Marozsan needed to be fully concentrated for this next point, and came up with a bizarre game plan. They played rock, paper, scissors to decide who would receive. After they both went scissors, the Hungarian's paper triumphed over Medvedev's rock and he had the honour of returning.

It would be for nothing in the end. Marozsan's return went wide and a tiebreak was confirmed. They would end up regretting these missed set points as they lost the tiebreak 7-4 before managing just one point in the second set as the rain came pouring down.

There is a lot of tennis to be played in Montreal with the two singles quarter-finals being postponed and moved to today. This also includes the doubles match featuring Medvedev and Marozsan with a semi-final spot on the line.

The 2021 champion was dumped out the first time of asking against Botic Van de Zandschulp in a 6-3, 7-6(5) loss. His inconsistent form in 2026 has been showcased regularly. He has had some really good moments, winning the Brisbane International and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships before backing it up with a run to the Indian Wells final, dumping out Carlos Alcaraz before pushing Jannik Sinner to a brace of tiebreaks, being edged in both of them.

An early exit in Miami would be followed by a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Matteo Berrettini in the Monte-Carlo Masters in a hugely surprising collapse. He did find some form at the Rome Open in a run to the semi-finals where Sinner again stopped his progress, but aside from that his recent results have not been to the standard he would have hoped.

Up next following the culmination of his doubles campaign in Canada is the Cincinnati Open. The 2019 champion, Medvedev has won just a single match in the last three editions. He will hope to turn that form around and gain some momentum ahead of a return to the US Open.