Slice: Tennis title is a long time coming for Yakima woman

The security guards at Mobile (Ala.) Regional Airport weren't sure what to make of one piece of Barbara Kinloch's carry-on luggage. Its pyramid base might conceivably be used as a weapon, and then there were all of those sharp edges -- and, on top, that crystal tennis ball.

Finally, the guards decided the 61-year-old Yakima woman wasn't a potential threat and that her crystal piece wasn't a weapon. It was, in fact, the trophy of a national champion.

For Kinloch, that's a first. She has been ranked atop the United States Tennis Association's Pacific Northwest Section at least once during every five-year age group span since she was 35, and she ranks No. 1 in singles in her age group.

But, until last week, she had never won a national title.

At the USTA's Super Senior League National Championships in Mobile, Kinloch combined with Dee Strecker of Bellevue to capture the doubles title at the highest ranking level for players 60 and older.

Kinloch isn't letting the success go to her head.

"It was a little bit easier doing it this time, because naturally, at 60 and over, people slow down," she said, adding with a laugh, "I'm feeling very old these days."

Noting that she loses to much younger players on a fairly regular basis at the Yakima Tennis Club, Kinloch said, "I really don't consider myself all that great a doubles player. I'm a better singles player at my age level. I can get beat a lot in doubles.

"But not this time."