Watch: Liam Pitchford can't wait to get back to the table

The Chesterfield ace, currently ranked No 15 in the world, will take part in the $400,000 WTT Star Contender, from March 8.

He will then go straight into the World Olympic Qualifying tournament on March 14, where up to eight singles places for the Tokyo Olympics will be decided – if he doesn’t make it, he will have a further opportunity at the European qualifying event from April 21.

The Doha events are being held in a ‘Bio Bubble’ to minimise the risk of spreading coronavirus, with all players having to provide negative tests a week and 72 hours before leaving their home nations.

Pitchford has already been inside a bubble at similar events, having played in the ITTF #Restart events in China in November, but this will be his first opportunity since then to compete at the top level.

Pitchford said: “First tournament for a few months, so it’s going to be exciting, but not having played competitive matches for a while, it’s going to be a bit difficult.

“I feel like I’m in a better place than I was going into China, playing well and working hard. I feel like I can hit the ground running.

“I definitely know what to expect now. Hopefully it’s going to be like any normal tournament, but obviously there are restrictions in place and it might take a bit of time to get used to.

"But having played in China, I think I’m definitely at an advantage.”

Pitchford has happy memories of Qatar, having reached the finals of both the men’s singles and – alongside Paul Drinkhall – the men’s doubles at the Qatar Open last March in the final tournament before the international calendar shut down.

As for his ambitions at these events, he said: “I don’t want to put a limit on it, I just want to get out there and see how it goes.

“I honestly feel like I’m in a really good place, I’m hitting the ball well and playing well. I’m confident and that’s the main thing – if I’m confident and I’m going in like that and hitting the ball well, I believe I can beat anybody.”