Just before the first playoff match, TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen have announced another prominent and painful departure. Superstar Hugo Calderano will not be part of the team for the 2025/26 season, bringing his second stint at the club to a close. Currently ranked world number six, the Brazilian only returned to his beloved team in 2023, after already playing for the Oberschwaben side from 2014 to 2021. During his time with the club, Calderano developed from a young talent into one of the world’s very best players. Across nine seasons, he played a total of 173 matches and won 124 of them.
However, this is not a complete goodbye. The greatest South American table tennis player of all time will remain part of the Ochsenhausen training group.
From a sporting perspective, Calderano’s departure is without question a huge loss. Just this year, he led his team to the Liebherr Final Four Cup title with an outstanding performance and dominated the league with a 17:1 record. Adding to the double in 2019, he now has three major titles with the club and has secured his place in its history books. Off the table, he leaves an equally large void: a role model, a fan favorite, and a true figure of identification for the team.
Both sides part ways with the utmost respect. Together with the recent departure of Simon Gauzy, this marks a major turning point for Ochsenhausen — but one that also signals the beginning of a new chapter.
Club President Kristijan Pejinovic:
We knew that Hugo couldn’t continue on this path with such a packed schedule. Still, it’s hard to accept losing not only a great leader on the table, but also a fantastic person within the team. He showed this season once again that we could always count on him when it mattered most. But this is the reality, and we fully understand his renewed 'time out' from the first team and the TTBL. As difficult as it is, we’re convinced this is the right step for him. The new international tournament formats with high prize money on one side and a very strong TTBL on the other led him to the decision to focus entirely on the WTT Tour for next season.
Still, just like with Simon, we’re happy that he’ll remain in Ochsenhausen to train and help the next generation. Hugo is only 28 – maybe, as we’ve seen before, there will be a chance for him to return to our team in the future. Either way, we wish him nothing but the best in the next phase of his career, and we’ll be following and supporting him every step of the way.
Hugo Calderano:
Ochsenhausen has been my club at heart for the past eleven years, and it always will be. That’s why this goodbye is not easy. I’ll cherish all the moments we’ve shared as a team and with the fans. I owe TTF so much for what I’ve achieved in my career, and I’ll miss everyone a lot. I don’t know exactly what the future holds, but it was time for a new chapter. It’s not over yet, though — and my full focus is now on the final title we’re fighting for together in the Bundesliga.
Source: TTF Liebherr Ochsenhausen