Scottish Players Set for Victor Swedish Open Challenge in Uppsala
14th January 2026 by Robert McLean
A strong Scottish contingent heads to the picturesque town of Uppsala, Sweden, this week for the Victor Swedish Open, with competitive action set to get underway tomorrow. With all four Scottish representatives in action on the opening day, there will be plenty of early interest as they look to negotiate the qualifying rounds and secure places in the main draw.
Leading the charge is James Robertson, who arrives in Sweden full of confidence following a brilliant run through qualifying in Estonia last week. Showing strong form and resilience, Robertson will be hoping to build on that momentum as he begins his round-of-64 qualifying match against Austria’s promising young talent Emil Dantler. A positive start could prove crucial as he looks to continue his upward trajectory on the international circuit.
Callum Smith will also be keen to make his mark in Uppsala after coming agonisingly close to main-draw qualification in Estonia, where he fell in the final qualifying match. Determined to go at least one round better this time around, Smith faces a challenging opening encounter in the round of 64 qualifiers against experienced home favourite Richard Kuhl, with local support likely to play a factor in what should be a competitive contest.
Completing the Scottish singles interest on day one is Matthew Waring, who will be targeting progress through the draw as he seeks consistency on the international stage. Waring faces a tough opener against Czech player Dominik Kopřiva, currently ranked world number 252, in a match that promises to test his patience and tactical discipline from the outset.
There is also Scottish involvement in the men’s doubles, with Yan Lok Chiu teaming up with his Australian partner Yan Ki Chiu. The pair face an important opening match against Arden Quan Lee and Stanley Xing of the United States, knowing that victory would secure their place in the main draw. With qualification on the line, the encounter is expected to be tightly contested.
With a full slate of Scottish matches on the opening day and the potential for deep runs across both singles and doubles, it promises to be an exciting week of badminton in Sweden. Fans can follow all the action live on Badminton Europe TV – https://www.badmintoneurope.tv/en-int/page/home-badminton-europe, while full updates and a tournament roundup will be available on our website and social media channels at the conclusion of the event.