Rain halts play at Strasbourg

STRASBOURG, France, May 23 (UPI) -- Rain forced postponement of the quarterfinals in the $170,000 Strasbourg International claycourt tennis event Thursday.

Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia, Italy's Silvia Farina Elia and

American Meghann Shaughnessy, the three top seeds, each posted straight-set victories in the second round Wednesday and will play Friday if the weather holds up.

Dokic, who received a bye in the first round, takes on Croatian Jelena Kostanic. Farina Elia also had a bye in the first round and faces sixth-seeded American Lisa Raymond. Shaughnessy plays Switzerland's Emmanuelle Gagliardi.

No. 5 Magdalena Maleeva of Bulgaria had a 6-4, 1-2 lead over Australia's Barbara Schwartz when the rains came.