International Players Tennis Championships : Edberg, Kohde-Kilsch Beat the Rain and Gain Quarterfinals

Second-seeded Stefan Edberg of Sweden was one of only two players to make it to the quarterfinals of the International Players Championships Monday.

Playing in the first match of the day, Edberg defeated Kevin Curren in 93 minutes, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, and was in the locker room before thunderstorms washed out play at the International Tennis Center.

Only one other singles match was completed, with ninth-seeded Claudia Kohde-Kilsch of West Germany beating seventh-seeded Zina Garrison, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, to reach the women’s quarterfinals.

Three other singles matches were postponed, with fourth-seeded Yannick Noah of France leading Johan Kriek, 4-6, 6-3, 5-3; Slobodan Zivojinovic of Yugoslavia ahead of ninth-seeded Miloslav Mecir of Czechoslovakia, 6-2, 0-3, and sixth-seeded Helena Sukova of Czechoslovakia leading 13th-seeded Lori McNeil, 5-7, 7-5, 3-2.

Those matches were scheduled to be concluded today, weather permitting. However, rain is forecast for the rest of the week.

Also postponed were matches that featured top-seeded Ivan Lendl against 16th-seeded Brad Gilbert and Stephanie Rehe against third-seeded Chris Evert Lloyd.

Edberg had no idea the rain was on the way, but he wasted no time with Curren.

“I don’t think I can play any better than that,” the Australian Open and U.S. Indoor champion said. “Today is the first match of this tournament (in which) I’ve played very well.”

Monday’s victory was the third straight for Kohde-Kilsch over Garrison.

“Since she changed her game and started coming in more, I beat her,” Kohde-Kilsch said. “Before that, she beat me five times in a row. I don’t know why it is. She seems to be comfortable coming in, and it works against most people.”