Hugo Calderano is currently the only South American to feature on the ITTF top ten. The Brazilian is 26 and may even be considered to be the greatest Americas ping pong player of all time, given he reached a career-high 3rd place rankings. A feat none of the previous male table tennis players have managed to pull off. This article highlights more information about Hugo Calderano’s personal life and career. So, let’s dive right in!
Name: Hugo Calderano
Nickname: Thrill from Brazil
Date of Birth: June 22, 1996
Age: 26 years
Gender: Male
Place of Birth: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Nationality: Brazilian
Religion: Catholic
Marital status: Single
Height: 6ft
Weight: 163lbs
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Black
Team: Brazilian National Team
Hobbies: Swimming, playing video games, and table tennis
Favorite food: Barbecued meat
Favorite destination: Brasília
Favorite animal: Dog
Hugo Calderano is a table tennis player born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 22, 1996. There’s little information about the player’s early life, including where he learned to play ping pong and where he went to school.
However, we know that Hugo began playing table tennis at eight. Both his mother and grandfather were physical educators and encouraged him to explore the game. After a few years, the young man was already competing in national tournaments. In fact, he was named the best school athlete at the Brazil Olympic Award in 2009 after playing the game for only four years.
When he relocated to So Caetano in So Paulo in 2010, he made a final investment in his career due to the table tennis evolution. The plan was to train at one of the nation’s facilities for the Olympic games.
During Calderano’s “Paulista” era, he learned a lot of things that made his career skyrocket. He won medals on the World Youth Tour in 2011, competed in the Vivência Olimpica Project in 2012, and made his adult debut in 2013 after winning the Olympic Brazil Award for the best table tennis player.
Hugo Calderano’s career underwent a series of pivotal changes in 2014. He adopted a new playing style to make his games more intense, placing him in a better position on the world map. In 2015, he won gold in both the Singles and Teams competitions during the Pan American Games in Toronto.
Hugo maintained this level of performance in the 2016 Olympics. But sadly, the calliber of opponents he faced was a lot higher; hence the outcome was different. The Brazilian was defeated in the round of 16.
Hugo has an extremely aggressive playing style, and given that he likes to stick close to the table, it may be a bit similar to what some of the young players in Asia are using. He favors his backhand, and overall his playing style is relatively similar to Dimitri Ovtcharov’s. Dimitri is a German player who currently ranks 9th in the world.
Both players use a lot of backhand topspin counterattacks and flick attacks. The players also maintain a parallel standing position when playing. This standing position is favorable for players who favor the backhand in their playing style.
The equipment a player uses when playing significantly contributes to his performance. Hugo Calderano uses the custom blade, the Cornilleau Calderano Spot Off Fl. It’s designed for offensive players with a bias toward those who have topspin. If this isn’t your play style, but you’d still like top-tier equipment for your games, consider checking out our best ping pong paddles list.
It’s worth noting that Calderano also previously used the Gatien Conquest, an excellent blade whose best attribute is speed.
As for the rubbers, Hugo uses a Target Pro GT -X51, one of the quickest from the Target range. The medium-hard Target Pro GT H47 he uses on the backhand is a great all-rounder for speed, spin, and control.
Hugo has achieved a lot of things in his career over the years. Here are the major highlights.
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
Hugo Calderano’s salary is not known. However, his net worth is about $1-6 million USD, including his salary and an accumulation of money earned from sponsorships and endorsement deals from various brands, like Tibhar and Xiom. The player also owns several cars and a home.
Hugo has social media accounts that he uses to connect with his fans. Some of his social media profiles include:
Who is Hugo Calderano dating?
Rumor has it that Hugo unveiled his girlfriend but did not reveal her name, which makes sense, especially if he’d like to keep his personal life private.
What is Hugo Calderano’s Current ranking?
At the moment, Hugo Calderano is ranked 5th worldwide.
Does Hugo Calderano Have Siblings?
Hugo Calderano’s siblings are not known. The player prefers to keep his personal life private.
Who are Hugo Calderano’s parents?
Hugo’s father is known as Elisa Borges, and his mother is Marcos Marinho Calderano
What rubber does Calderano use?
Hugo Calderano uses one of the best table tennis rubbers, the Target Pro GT rubber.
Hugo Calderano is one of the greatest table tennis players in history worldwide. If you’ve been wondering about Hugo’s personal life, career journey, and personal achievements, you’ll find all your answers in our article.