TENNIS WOMEN AT PALM SPRINGS : Rain Postpones Matches Again

For the second consecutive day, steady rain forced the postponement of scheduled matches at the Virginia Slims of Palm Springs tennis tournament.

The rain, which flooded Center Court as well as the tented areas of Bono’s Racket Club on Thursday, created a logjam of matches to be played and may threaten the completion of the tournament.

Top-seeded players Monica Seles and Martina Navratilova are scheduled to play third-round matches today and might also play quarterfinal matches. However, their potential quarterfinal opponents have not played their second-round matches and would have to play three matches in one day to include the quarterfinals. Such a schedule is not permitted.

Play is set to begin at 9 a.m. today with Seles’ third-round match against Sabine Appelmans, followed by Navratilova vs. Ginger Helgeson in another third-round match.

More rain is forecast today and throughout the weekend, although a spokesperson for the Women’s Tennis Assn. said a Monday final is possible if the tournament is not completed by Sunday as scheduled.