Brazilian table tennis player Hugo Calderano, currently ranked third in the world, was barred from entering the United States and consequently missed the WTT Grand Smash tournament in Las Vegas. The denial of entry was due to his travel to Cuba in 2023 to participate in the Pan-American Championships, which affected his eligibility for the U.S. visa waiver program (ESTA). Despite holding Portuguese citizenship, Calderano was unable to obtain timely authorization to enter the U.S., as Cuba is on the list of countries whose travelers face restrictions under a law established during the Obama administration. An emergency visa was approved but delays prevented him from arriving in time for the competition. Calderano, who recently won the Table Tennis World Cup and earned a silver medal at the World Championships, expressed frustration over missing one of the year's most important events because of these visa issues.