Disappointment for Scots in Reykjavík
26th January 2026 by Robert McLean
It proved to be a challenging but valuable week of competition for Scotland’s two representatives at the RSL Iceland International, as both Finlay Jack and Yan Lok Chiu exited the tournament early despite delivering committed and competitive performances against strong international opposition in Reykjavík.
Finlay Jack opened his campaign in the men’s singles with a testing encounter against Slovenia’s Miha Ivanič, a player sitting almost 500 places higher in the world rankings. Undeterred by the disparity, Jack rose to the occasion and produced one of his most spirited performances on the international stage. He matched Ivanič for long spells in both games, applying pressure with solid court coverage and forcing extended rallies, but ultimately the Slovenian’s experience told at key moments. Jack went down 21–16, 21–15, with the scoreline reflecting a contest that was far closer than the rankings suggested.
Yan Lok Chiu also faced a demanding opening-round assignment in the men’s singles, taking on Israel’s Mayan Mogilner in what turned into one of the tightest matches involving the Scots. Chiu competed aggressively throughout, staying in close contention in both games and pushing Mogilner deep into the latter stages. However, despite his persistence and tactical discipline, Chiu was unable to find the decisive points when it mattered most, narrowly losing out 21–18, 21–19 in a match that could easily have swung either way.
Day two saw Chiu return to court in the men’s doubles alongside his Australian partner Yan Ki Chiu. The pair faced a familiar challenge in the form of American youngsters Stanley Xing and Arden Quan Lee, meeting again just a week after their encounter at the Swedish Open. On this occasion, the Americans asserted control from the outset, dictating the tempo and limiting opportunities for the Chiu partnership to settle. The match concluded in a straight-games defeat, 21–11, 21–11, marking a tougher outcome than their previous meeting.
Although the results in Reykjavík ended in disappointment, the week offered valuable match experience against quality opposition. Both Scottish players demonstrated competitiveness, resilience, and flashes of strong form that will be crucial moving forward. With a busy schedule of European tournaments ahead in the coming months, Jack and Chiu will be aiming to convert these performances into main-draw progress and improved results on the international circuit.