Tough Outing for Scots in Riga as Meldrum and Clowes Exit Early
12th June 2025 by Robert McLean
It was a tough day for the Scottish contingent at the Latvia International in Riga, as both Angus Meldrum and Malik Clowes fell at the first hurdle in the men’s singles qualifying rounds.
Coming off an impressive run at the Bonn International, where he made a notable impact, expectations were high for Meldrum. However, the draw dealt him a difficult hand, pitting him against rising star Yan Shu Wang of Chinese Taipei — a player known for his aggressive net play and relentless energy on court despite his youth.
Meldrum showed glimpses of his recent form, moving well and creating some sharp angles, but struggled to find rhythm against Wang’s pace. The Taiwanese teenager controlled the rallies and forced Meldrum into defensive positions throughout both sets. Despite Meldrum’s efforts to claw his way back in each game, Wang’s consistency saw him take the match 21-15, 21-15.
Over on the adjacent court, Malik Clowes faced Poland’s Adam Winciaszek in a clash that quickly became one of the more entertaining encounters of the qualifying round. Clowes started solidly, exchanging powerful baseline shots with the Polish shuttler. Winciaszek took the first set 21-15, but Clowes upped his intensity in the second. The Scot fought tenaciously, however, Winciaszek held his nerve in the closing moments, edging the set 24-22 and sealing the match in straight games.
Both defeats came as a disappointment after promising performances on the European circuit earlier in the season. Meldrum and Clowes will now return home to regroup and assess their schedules ahead of the next stretch of international events, with autumn tournaments in Slovenia and Czech Republic possible stops on the horizon.
While the early exits were not the result they’d hoped for, both players gained valuable experience competing against good international opposition — and with the season still young, there are more opportunities ahead to turn lessons into results.
