London, U.K. — As Team GB climbs ever higher in the medal table, on the Beach the UK’s leading online travel agent, reveals the top sporting activities across some of Europe’s most loved destinations.

While soccer is the number one sport in the UK, a holiday in one of our best loved summer destinations can offer a variety of sporting experiences.

Croatia boasts an insatiable passion for one of the nations’ most loved sports; Tennis. With a beautiful climate throughout the summer, there is no better way to spend a holiday in Croatia, than taking part in a great game on court followed, by a refreshing ‘deuce’ at the poolside to cool off.

Bulgarians favour the highly disciplined sport of Boxing; perhaps not quite as relaxing as spending a day topping up the tan on Sunny Beach, it can be a great way to keep in shape whilst enjoying your holiday on the Black Sea coast.

The Portuguese prefer to take to the pedals, with cycling one of the nations’ favorite sport. With On the Beach witnessing a boost in bookings for self-catering holidays to the Algarve this summer, holidaymakers can follow suit and experience the true beauty of Portugal on the back of bike, which has the added bonus of catching even more rays.

To no surprise the gorgeous Greeks are keen volleyball enthusiasts, with plenty of picturesque beaches on offer to perfect their techniques. Cheap breaks to Crete and other Greek Islands will leave holidaymakers finding that the breathtaking Greek landscapes are not the only treat to the eyes while lapping up the sun.

Alistair Daly, Marketing Director at On the Beach commented “With many destinations around Europe offering cheap summer holidays, Brits should take advantage of the bargains and jet off to foreign shores; not only to sport a golden tan but to go for gold and enjoy the nations’ favorite sport too.”

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Andy Murray stunned Roger Federer to win the Olympic gold medal at Wimbledon yesterday just 28 days after a gut-wrenching defeat saw the Brit in tears on centre court.

Murray did not drop a set, beating the world number one 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, in a one-sided encounter which showed the world Murray is capable of beating the big guns on the big occasions.

It was revenge for the Scot who lost the Wimbledon final to the Swiss just a month earlier on the same court.

“It’s number one for me – the biggest win of my life,” said Murray., who took inspiration from team GB’s performance on the athletics field on Saturday night.

“I have had a lot of tough losses in my career and this is the best way to come back from the Wimbledon final.”

Murray had  beaten world number two Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the semi-final and looks to be in imperious form entering the American hard-court season.

Many believe this could be the boost the Brit needs to win his first grand slam.

He will now prepare for the final major of the year – the US Open – and will enter with renewed confidence.

“I hope this will give me the confidence to go there and believe in myself a bit more than I have in the past,” said Murray, whose straight sets victory on Sunday was his first in five sets over Federer.

“Hopefully I can have a good run and give myself a shot at winning.

“I’ve had a lot of questions asked about me many times. I’m just glad I managed to put on a performance I’ve been waiting for.

“It was a huge match for me. It was a big match for Roger as well. I’m sure he would have wanted to win the gold – it’s one of the few things he hasn’t done in his singles career.

“To win today, in the way I did, makes those losses a little bit easier to take. It will help with the way I go into the [Grand Slam] matches and I hope it will make me a better player.”

Murray went on to claim a silver medal in the mixed doubles with Laura Robson. They lost in the championship tiebreak to number one seeds Victoria Azerenka and Max Mirnyi.

Image Courtesy of  Maxisport / Shutterstock.com

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Serena Williams demolished Maria Sharapova 6-0, 6-1 en route to winning the Olympic gold medal and securing a career golden slam.

Williams stamped her authority on the competition from the outset and lost just 17 games through the course of the competition. The impressive gold medal match victory leaves her on a 17 match-winning streak since her shocking first round exit at the French Open.

The 63 minute final saw the American drop just one game against Sharapova, and was the most comprehensive Olympic women’s single win.

She joins Germany’s Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi of the United States and Spain’s Rafael Nadal as the only players to have won all four Grand Slams and Olympic gold in singles.

“Oh my gosh, I got the gold. I’ve never played better. Playing against someone like Maria you have to be at your best. I knew that, so it was like I had nothing to lose,” said Williams.

“I never expected gold in singles. I was so happy with my doubles golds [in Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008].

“I thought, ‘If my career’s over I have my gold medal and now I have everything.’

“I have singles, doubles, actually everything there is to win in tennis. Where do I go from here?”

Silver medal winner, Sharapova said: ”Serena played some incredible tennis, with the form she was in during Wimbledon and afterwards.

“With every match she has played she has played great, she has improved and become better, and that showed today.”

Williams teamed up with sister Venus to win the doubles gold medal in a similar fashion, with the pair not dropping a set in the concurrent competition.

She hopes to continue her form into the final part of the season as she attempts to win her 15^th grand slam singles title at the US Open in a few weeks time.

In the bronze medal match, Victoria Azerenka beat Maria Kirilenko to secure her first Olympic medal.

Azerenka went on to win the mixed gold with partner Max Mirnyi leaving her and Williams with two medals each.

Image Courtesy of   Neale Cousland / Shutterstock.com

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Serbian Novak Djokovic has really shown his aspirations for the Olympic gold medal after beating American Andy Roddick by a clear 6-2, 6-1 in the second round of the tennis discipline at Wimbledon on Tuesday, July 31.

The world’s second-ranked, Djokovic had little trouble against the American and finished with a clear score to the three-time Wimbledon finalist, Andy Roddick.

After a steady start on Centre Court at Wimbledon, Djokovic broke the Nebraskan player’s serve two times (on the sixth and eighth game), to take the first set in 30 minutes by a 6-2 score.

In the second set, the Serbian managed to break his serve in the second game to Roddick, who usually performs well on the grass. Djokovic destroyed Roddick’s chances with a convincing 6-1 after just 54 minutes on the court.

“It was a perfect match in every sense,” Djokovic said after the game ended.

Novak Djokovic is playing at the All England Club, which has the same settings as the Wimbledon. He is aiming for the gold medal and winning back his place as the world’s number one, which Swiss player Roger Federer took from him just twenty days ago.

Murray also won on Tuesday after beating Finish player Jarkko Nieminen (6-2 y 6-4). Therefore it seems that number two on the ATP ranking Djokovic and number four Andy Murray, will play each other if they both keep winning, since they are in the same side of the pairing chart. However, before this can happen Djokovic will have to play against the winning racquet of the game between Croatian Marin Cilic and Australian Lleyton Hewitt.

With the loss against Djokovic, Roddick says goodbye to the Olympics 2012. Rumor has it that he might be thinking about retirement, but the tennis player has yet to confirm speculations, saying: “That’s not something that I’m going to talk about.”

Image Courtesy of  Yuya Chiu / Shutterstock.com

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Michigan, U.S.A. — A new generation is redefining retirement by diving into high-energy activities and seeking new experiences – from motorcycle riding and hiking to kayaking and white-water river rafting.

One of the nation’s active adult community builder reports that high-energy clubs and activity groups are gaining popularity across the nation, with health and fitness emerging as a top interest among both Del Webb residents and prospective home buyers.

“Recreational interests among Baby Boomers are more diverse than ever before. Sure, golf and tennis are still popular, but now so are outdoor adventure activities like canoeing and kayaking, marathon running, rock climbing, off-roading and even sky diving,” said Judy Julison, Del Webb’s national director of lifestyle. “I’ve worked in the industry for more than 30 years and have never seen a more diverse group of people with so many varying interests.”

Julison added that expectations about age, vitality and quality of life continue to be redefined and emphasize the importance of physical activity for many Del Webb residents. Advancements in health care and improved access to wide variety of fitness and wellness oriented programs have contributed to promoting improved health and extending life expectancy. Boomers feel years younger than their chronological age and this typically is reflective of their active lifestyle, she said.

According to the most recent Del Webb Baby Boomer survey, 80 percent of Boomers indicated that they feel younger than their current age. More specifically, younger Boomers, age 50, said they feel 10 years younger, Boomers in their early 60s said they feel 13 years younger and Del Webb residents with a median age of 65 said they feel 15 years younger than their actual age.

“Baby Boomers enjoy ‘experiences,’ rather than just ‘activities.’ They are also known to go to great lengths to resist the realities of aging,” Julison said. “Our Del Webb residents are constantly seeking new, active and high-energy activities that can be incorporated into their everyday life, that also allow them to socialize and have fun. They are often motivated by a simple desire to try something new or to engage in an experience that challenges them physically and mentally.”

With 73 percent reporting they exercise regularly, Del Webb residents are embracing more health-oriented and fitness activities. This is also reflected in the residents’ requests for new group fitness classes, organized sporting events and increased attendance at the communities’ fitness centers.

Seeking more adventure activities is definitely in line with Jack Burch’s idea of retirement, as he regularly participates in motorcycle rides. Jack, 58, a Carolina Preserve by Del Webb resident, started riding a scooter when he was 10 because it was “easier than walking up the hill to fetch the cows.” From there he rode dirt bikes and street bikes. “I gave up riding while raising five children but my wife and I have returned to it now that they are grown.”

His wife Carol Burch, 55, also enjoys all kinds of rides in North Carolina and beyond – from three hour rides to trips that are 300 miles a day for a week.

“Riding on the back seat just wasn’t for me, so I took the class and got my own. Now when we go on trips whether they are three hours or 300 miles daily for a week, I am in control. I can smell those beautiful flowers on the side of the road and yes, also the cow dung,” Carol says. “I look forward to each and every ride exploring new areas and absolutely love the mountain twisties. This is something we can do into our 80s.”

Image Courtesy of  StreetStrider International

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Roger Federer played some of the best tennis of his life to beat Britain’s Andy Murray in the Wimbledon final yesterday.

Federer came back from a set and a break down to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, claim his seventh Wimbledon title and 17^th career grandslam.

It was his first major victory since January 2010, and the king of the grass was relieved to be back at the top after a couple of years absent from the Wimbledon final with people doubting him.

“I think the belief got me to victory today, and almost two other ones in the last couple of years as well,” he said.

“When it all happened I was just so happy that it was all over and that the pressure was gone, basically.

“I guess that came due to the tough loss I had here last year. There were a couple of tough moments for me over the last couple years.

“But I think I’m playing some of the best tennis of my life right now.”

An emotional Murray was reduced to tears in front of his home crowd, showing how much the Wimbledon title meant to him.

He has now lost all four of his grand-slam finals – a feat that only his coach, Ivan Lendl, and Kim Clijsters have ever done before – the future looks bright if history is anything to go by.

This was by far his best effort; however, and while he will take some time to recover from this loss, he will be proud of the improvements he has made, particularly in his mental game.

“I am getting closer,” a tearful Murray said to the BBC immediately after the match.

“Everybody always talks about the pressure of playing at Wimbledon, but it’s not the people watching – they make it incredible.

“I felt like I was playing for the nation and I couldn’t quite do it.

“We’re talking about one of the greatest athletes of all time. You’ve got to put it in context a little bit.”

Murray got off to a flying start and made the Swiss superstar look distinctly average for a set and half. But after Federer clinched the second set the rain came down, meaning the remainder of the match was played under the roof of centre court.

Federer was able to hit his precise shots without the elements affecting him and showed the world why he has such an immaculate indoor record.

Murray never gave up fighting however, and pushed Federer until the final point.

A twenty minute game in the third set on the Scot’s serve in which he saved six break points before surrendering to the relentless pressure of Federer was the turning point of the match.

The 30-year-old continued to elevate his game, and played two of the best sets of his life to complete the turnaround.

He now regains the number one spot and will match Sampras’ record of 286 weeks at the top of the rankings.

Murray many have lost the final, but he won the hearts of a nation, and showed the world how close he is getting to that elusive grand slam he deserves.

He will join Federer and the other top players back at SW19 in a few weeks to compete for the Olympic title before the American hard court season and the US Open at the end of next month.

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Serena Williams overcame a fight back from Agnieszka Radwanska to claim her fifth Wimbledon singles title in three sets with scores of 6-1, 5-7, and 6-2.

Williams dominated the first set in a little over 30 minutes before the third seed from Poland managed to find her feet. But Radwanska, who has been suffering from a virus for the last few days, made the most of the rain break after the first set and came out fighting to sneak the second. Williams managed to regroup in the third and won her 14^th Grand Slam title just two years after a life-threatening illness.

“I can’t even describe it. I almost didn’t make it a few years ago,” an emotional Williams told the BBC, referring to her health problems. “I was in hospital but now I’m here again and it was so worth it. I’m so happy. Aggie played so well. That’s why she’s had such a great career, and she’s so young.”

A three setter never looked on the cards after Williams came out all guns blazing. Radwanska even went a break down 2-1 in the second before she found her form. She clawed back the break and hit some magical winners to show how she had made the final for the first time.

The American looked to have no answer at the end of the second set and her serve, which was so impressive throughout the tournament, failed to fire. But Williams showed her champion mentality and regrouped in the final set, completing one game in just 49 seconds by hitting four aces.

She served 17 aces in the final, bringing her total to 103, the highest of any man or woman at this year’s Wimbledon.

Her victory is the first by a lady over 30 since Martina Navratilova in 1990 and it looks like there will be more to come.

Radwanska will take confidence from this tournament though– her best grand slam to date – and she will be ranked number two in the world on Monday. Her consistent hitting, anticipation and finesse touch is a refreshing change reminiscent of Martina Hingis; and shows there is still a place in the game for those who can’t simply rely on big hitting from the baseline.

But it is Williams who has confirmed her position as one of the greatest – if not the greatest female ever to play the game with such an impressive victory.

Image Courtesy of  Kat Shann

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Novac Djokovic wins US Open in an unbelievable performance.Djokovic. the Worlds’ number 1 showed no weakness during most of the match against Rafael Nadal. Djokovic’s forehand reigned supreme over Nadal’s signature powerful backhand.In the third set , ‘the King of clay’ Nadal attempted a comeback,but in the end Djokovic outplayed him.

Novac beat the defending champion 6-4;6-2;6-7;(7-3);6-1.Djokovic blasted through the last set 6-1 in just 38 minutes. He slumped to his knees in elation, relief and exhaustion after finally overcoming his great foe, Nadal after 246 mins of spectacular tennis.

Djokovic set the pace in the first three sets, but the brave Nadal found a way to win the third set and stay in the match after breaking Djokovic when he was serving for the match.The effort may have told, however, Nadal unable to repeat his torpedo like shots when it mattered most.

The red-hot Serb triumphed in a four-hour, 10-minute final featuring breathtaking shot-making, rock-solid defence, gruelling rallies as well as warnings for both men for taking too long between points. Nadal, who faced 26 break points and was out-hit in winners with his 32 lagging behind the champion’s 55, said he is determined to eventually overturn his losing run at the hands of Djokovic.

“I’m disappointed to lose, but Novak has been doing unbelievable things. What he has done this year will be impossible to repeat,” said the world No.2.”We pushed our bodies to the limits, I tried to play aggressive but he was making fantastic comebacks. I fought for every ball.”

Djokovic arrived on court sporting a New York fire department baseball cap, a gesture appreciated by the 23,000 crowd, just a day after the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.Despite the tricky, swirling breeze, Nadal was quickly on top, breaking for a 2-0 lead before the Serb hit straight back for 2-1.

Djokovic has won an impressive 64 games in 2011, and lost just two.He now has captured 10 titles this year. This is the Serbians’ third major title this year,the sixth man to ever achieve this fete, and his first US Open title.Nadal defeated him in the final last year . ‘Djoker’ as he is affectionately known is clearly the man to beat this year.

He outplayed Roger Federer in a 5 set semi-final.His ground strokes are as penetrating as Nadal, his serve is more consistent than most of his rivals,and his temperant under pressure is now sound. Djokovic’s shot selection was a highlight today, the variety of his choices kept Nadal guessing, as well as running.

His return of service was also exceptional.He is a champion, master of more than the power game. His razor-sharp, sweeping backhand and killer forehand are difficult to match. He is on a gluten free diet for the past four months, which has definitely improved his agility. If he can maintain his fitness, Novac could become one of the all time greats.

Djokovic received a trophy and USD$1 800 000. Upon receving his prize the champion stated “”It’s an incredible feeling. I’ve had an amazing year. To play Rafa is always a great challenge and I hope we have many more tough matches in the years to come.”

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Novak Djokovic secured the No. 1 ranking in the world Sunday by defeating Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-1 ,1-6, 6-3 in the finals at Wimbledon.

Djokovic controlled the first two sets, seemingly having the match under control the whole way until Nadal tried to spark a fierce comeback in the third. Nadal provied why he and nor Djokovic came into this match with the number one ranking, but Djokovic ultimately proved why he took it.

The 24 year old Serbian pro got his first tournament win on grass and is now beginning what may be a long reign as tops in the world.

Djokovic improved to 48-1 with the win, including five wins against Nadal, and the only loss being to Roger Federer.

With Federer’s time in the spotlight dwindling, the tennis world will soon come down to many more battles between Djokovic and Nadal. No longer does one of them dominate a certain surface of play, making tournaments much tougher to predict. Grand Slams will start to become a real possibility for both of them, the only thing standing in their way being each other.

American born players have all but dropped out of relevance in the men’s game. Names like Fish and Roddick are not quite matching the stardom that fans were used to from guys like Agassi, Sampras and McEnroe.

Following a similar path of professional golf in the post-Tiger era, American fans are crying for a few face in tennis, and until that happens the sport will unfortunately suffer in popularity.

Of course this is no matter to the champions as only one of the four yearly majors is played in the United States.

Nadal is indeed a great player, but with the short windows that dominant tennis players have, expect it to be Djokovic’s time at the top for a while, it’s his turn.

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The last American Wimbledon Champion was Pete Sampris in 2000 against Aussie, Patrick Rafner.  The last American to reach a final is Andy Roddick…of course losing to all time great Roger Federer.

It is said that American champions come in cycles and a great champion will surface… but that is not likely to happen, considering the trends of popularity in the sport which is sturdily decreasing in America and increasing dramatically in Europe.  Let’s not forget tennis has always been a niche sport that will not necessarily improve in fan fare.

The chances of an American outside of the Williams sisters winning this Wimbledon is miniscule given the state of tennis on both sides of the ball; but miracles do happen.  As much as I may want to see that happen, there are stories outside of the winless Americans.

Do we want another final with Nadal and Federer? Sure why not…we know the star factor and entertainment factor will be present…or maybe a final with Novak Djokovic, ranked number 2 and also has played very well this year.  At one point this season, Djokovic had a 41 match winning streak, which came to an end on June 3^rd at the hands of Federer.

So far at Wimbledon, we are witnessing the return of the William sisters after their battles with injury and age; the downfall of all tennis players.  The first upset thus far has been former number one ranked player, Jankovic losing to Martinez in 3 sets.  The number one ranked female in the world is a 20 year old from Denmark named Caroline Wozniacki, her path to the final will not be easy in a wide open field, but let’s be honest it all depends on the health of the William sisters and their ability to recover quickly.   As of day 2, all of these women have been playing well…even the old (by tennis standards) Venus Williams.

Wozniacki looked the most impressive dismissing her opponent Parra Santonja (if you can call her that) in 2 sets without hardly breaking a sweat.

I don’t know about you guys, but I had been waiting for Isner versus Mahut …two warriors who gave us a great match last year which didn’t seem to want to end.  It was obvious the pain and fatigue both men faced but they endured none the less, making history.

And now here we go again…the most unlikely matchup happened again and to be honest with you, it didn’t really live up to the expectations…although, it may have been too much to ask from these two men to deliver the same kind of match they did last time.  After taking a 2 set lead, Isner the lengthy American  finished a tough 3^rd set and ended a match which people expected a lot more from; Mahut was no match for the bigger Isner on this day and he will move on to tougher competition at the same time trying to keep America alive at Wimbledon.

Quarter Finals

Let us fast forward to the quarter finals where the action has picked up a bit and the few faces of past winners have begun to drop like flies.

We started the week of the final 16 with major upsets of the William sisters…even through all their struggles, I kind of expected one of the two to win; mainly Serena.  She has the sort of will and talent that I figured would carry here trough… given the fact that she may not be 100% after the year she has had- but it is over now, after  losing in straight sets.

At this point, I wonder if Venus will win; consistently challenging and competing as she has done in the past…I know or at least I think Serena will be back in better shape than she played in Wimbledon 2011.

On the Men’s side of things, Federer surprisingly lost to Tsonga in 5 sets, only after winning the first 2 sets which has never happened in his illustrious career; Tsonga on the other hand, the 12^th ranked tennis player in the world has beaten Federer twice after losing the first set.

Once again, the four best players have failed to reach the semifinals of any tournament since 1985…No Federer/Nadal final; maybe we will have the next best thing with Nadal versus Djokovic.  Nadal on the other hand defeated the highest ranked American player left in the tournament, beating 10^th ranked Mardy Fish in relatively uneventful fashion.

Sharapova is playing great tennis at this point, now she becomes the favorite to win on the women’s side after the undeserving number one ranked player laid an egg.  But all the air has been taken out by the lack of big names and a true number one in the rankings. Nadal remains the guy in the men’s side but I can’t help think about the future and the role of an aging Federer in it.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jpgarnham/

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So far, this year’s Wimbledon doesn’t come with much surprise. There were only a few upsets in the first week of tournament: Robin Soderling’s loss to a young Australian, Bernard Tomic, and the 2011 French Open Champion, Na Li being defeated by Sabine Lisicki.

PS: I don’t consider Roddick’s loss an upset because he has not done so well lately in the Grand Slams.

I have to admit that the women’s game is gaining quality. Looking at the draw, I see possibility of a new champion being crowned. True, as I said before, you cannot count the Williams Sisters out. Instead, what I’m positive about is even if both of them go through to the final round, they would face tough challenges on the way. On the top draw, not only I see Caroline Wozniacki and Maria Sharapova, there is also Sabine Lisicki – who according to my dad, is a “dark horse” and can pose thread to Serena’s run. Why? She consistently serves extremely fast, at about 123 mph, possesses good movement, and is now packed with confidence. If Sharapova meets Wozniacki in the quarterfinals, I see Wozniacki coming off with a slight edge, though should be a close game. Can Sharapova win that matchup? Sure, if she brings her A game, play good defense, and of course, serving well. As for Serena’s section, I would really love to see her play against Liciski in the quarterfinals. With this many good players, it’s simply hard to predict who will come out as a finalist from the top draw.

Now, in the bottom draw, there are Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka, and Petra Kvitova who are the main contenders. Though I have not seen Kvitova plays that many times, from what I see she is able to hit the ball hard and flat. If both Venus and Kvitova win in the round of 16, they will meet in the quarterfinals. From what I heard from a few tennis experts, they all said that Venus looks the best so far. We’ll see.

On the Men’s side, the great Roger Federer should go all the way to at least the Semi where he could potentially meet Novak Djokovic. Personally, it feels as if this is a guaranteed since both players are playing great and should be able to knock off their opponents in the next two rounds. Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, will face Juan Martin del Potro in the round of 16 which certainly, isn’t an easy task. Whoever this one goes to, I don’t see the match being won in 3 sets. It should be a close match. If Nadal can go through del Potro, the rest shouldn’t be too hard for him, not until he gets to the final.

This second week should be packed with good quality actions. I do hope for a new winner, for both Men’s and Women’s, even though I am a big fan of Nadal and Sharapova. The truth is, it’s a little harder on the Men’s side where you got Federer. If you ask me, I don’t think there’s going to be a rematch of Serena and Venus in the final. But how about one sister? Maybe.

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Tennis, no not a game with racquets and tennis balls, but a duo group of a husband and wife, released their first full-length album “Cape Dory” on January 18, 2011, through Fat Possum Record Label. This Denver, Colorado-based band is made of husband, Patrick Riley, and wife, Alaina Moore. Their songs consist of a laid back, surfer mood that draws heavily from the girl group era. Their inspirations are based on a seven-month sailing trip that the couple took on the Eastern seaboard. As stated by Pitchfork, their music “touches on tide patterns and shifting winds and sandbars scraping beneath hulls; it also emphasizes the essential romance of the whole adventure. Above all, Tennis strives to evoke an unnamed but certainly more innocent past.” Everything about this group yells ‘a trip down memory lane.’ From the group’s name Tennis (a sport that had its peak popularity in the 70s and 80s) to the overall girl group pop sound to the record’s cover, it is all very nostalgia.

To start off, Prefix Magazine gave this album a rating of 9.0, while the average user rating was a 7.8. The first song, ‘Marathon’ is about the first time the duo ever sailed at night, describing the ocean like being in outer space and being really scary. This song was first introduced in June 2010 as a summer song. It was also featured on various television shows, such as the Greek Next Top Model and One Tree Hill. This song, like the rest, lives up to their “surfer-feel” with soothing melodies and calming voice of Alaina. When Moore sings lead, stretching her vowels that are combined with a dull recording, it is still pleasant and expressive.

“Cape Dory” is a concept album where every song is about the seven month sailing trip that Riley and Moore took, but the songs expertly navigate the tricky waters of romantic naval gazing, as stated by Prefix Magazine. The lyrics touch on universal topics, such as in the track “Baltimore,” where Moore sings: Can we get a job/Is that asking a lot? That one lyric can be related to today’s economy. The album flows with precision. Pitchfork stated that while the music is pleasant, it feels one-note and flat, but maybe that is needed to tell the story of the duo. Many singers produce albums where the songs are lively, upbeat, and predominately the same. On the other hand, Tennis uses their writing skills to produce songs that the listeners can vicariously live through. Personally, I do not think the melodies are flat but soothing and filled with memories. This album feels more like a slide show of their trip in song form than it does of anything else. Think of it as the perfect album on a rainy day: set the album at a soothing volume, sit back with closed eyes, and let Alaina’s voice carry you on a ride across the waters.

Track List
1. Take Me Somewhere
2. Long Boat Pass
3. Cape Dory
4. Marathon
5. Bimini Bay
6. South Carolina
7. Pigeon
8. Seafarer
9. Baltimore
10. Water birds

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