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Florida Crocs superstar Liam Pitchford (SPINDEX: 2897) will miss significant time with a right hip injury that will require surgery.

A timeline for Pitchford’s return is not yet clear, but he is expected to miss at least 4-6 months. 

Pitchford told Table Tennis England that he has been managing his injury since the 2024 Paris Olympics, but it grew worse in recent weeks. 

“[Surgery] is not an easy decision to make, but hopefully it is one for the best,” Pitchford told Major League Table Tennis and Table Tennis TV. “I’ll try and come back stronger.”

Pitchford was selected with the first overall pick in last year’s MLTT Draft, and his stellar play last season made him a finalist for Season 2 MVP. Last season with the Crocs, Pitchford earned a 64.4% singles win percentage (29-16) and a 46.7% doubles win percentage (14-16), while winning 51.5% of his Golden Games (52-101). 

Pitchford has been added to the injured reserve list, and he missed the Crocs’ Week 1 matches in Alameda County. He’s supporting his team from home with advice, guidance, and cheers.

“They’ve got a good team spirit,” Pitchford said of the Crocs. “The first weekend was okay, and I think they can build on that and hopefully get even better throughout the season.”

The Crocs will play against the New York Slice on Friday at 4:00 p.m. ET. You can watch this match exclusively on Table Tennis TV. Sign up today at tabletennis.tv, and use the promo code MLTT30 at checkout to get the first 30 days free.