mountains | Blade Fong

I’d like to thank Zlatibor for taking my altitude virginity.

Zlatibor, a small ski town by winter and a quiet family retreat by summer and was the perfect place to hold a tournament. While it’s a bit of a death trap negotiating the winding roads on the 3 and half hour drive from Belgrade to get there it was still very worth it.

If you like little community based ski towns then this is on your level. Located up in the mountains lies this popular summer retreat (if your serb), with friendly locals, cheap accommodation and amazing scenery you really couldn’t go wrong.

Speaking of mountains, for those of you who don’t know what or how altitude affects tennis let me explain it to you quickly.

Since the air is thinner you get tired quicker because you’re getting less oxygen into your blood per breath.
I’m not sure if it’s also because the air is the thinner but whatever the reason the ball flies! Rendering heavy topspin utterly useless.
Again, whatever the reason is the ball bounces extra high, so if your short you better be able to jump

Zlatibor was the final tournament in my Euro tour and while I didn’t do amazing (results) I finally feel like I’m playing better, which is a big relief from not playing my best for the last 6 or 7 tournaments.

Highlight of the week: Getting pink eye, FYI the term ‘pink eye’ is another term for conjunctivitis and contrary to popular belief there are other ways of getting it other than someone farting on your pillow.