PARIS, June 5: Sweden's Magnus Norman was on the verge of sealing a quarterfinal spot when rain halted his fourth-round men's singles match against Andrei Medvedev at the French Open on Monday, reports AFP.

Third-seeded Norman, aiming for the first Grand Slain ti-fleof his career, led Medvedev. 1 last year's beaten finalist, 6-0. 6-4. 4-1 on a bleak, wet and cloudy afternoon.

The players left the court when Medvedev complained it was impossible to slide safely.

Medvedev, beaten by Andre Agassi in last year's final, had made good-natured fun of Norman in a press conference earlier in the week but the Swede looked likely to have the last laugh.

The 24-year-old Norman, a semifinalist at the Australian Open in January and winner of two tournaments already this year was in good form until the rain made it impossible for play to continue.

Norman is the highest seed left in the tournament after the early departures of Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras. He has so far not lost a set. or even played a tiebreaker.

The Swede took Just 20min to win the first set after the start of play had been delayed by rain for over an hour. Medvedev was able to win just six points.

The Ukrainian had points for a 4-2 lead In the second set but Norman held on. broke for 5-4 and then served it out.

When Norman broke in the opening game of the third set it appeared there was no way back for Medvedev.

The winner of the Norman-Medvedev match will play either sixth-seeded Frenchman Cedric Pioline or 12th-seeded Russian Marat Safin, who were locked in combat on Centre Court.

Satin led 6-4. 1-6. 3-2 when that match was halted bv the - •

rain.

Two more men's fourthround matches were scheduled later Monday with ninth-seeded Australian Llevton Hewitt playing Albert Costa of Spain and 15th-seeded Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui facing Franco Squillari of Argentina

The other four men's fourthround matches were played on 'Sunday:

YeVgenY Kafelnikov of Russia. the fourth seed and 1996 champion here, rallied to record his third five-set victory of the tournament - winning 5-7. 6-3. 5-7. 7-6. 8-6 against Spaniard Fernando Vicente to earn a mouth-watering meeting with another former champion -- Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil.

Kuerten, the fifth seed who won here in 1997, stayed on track for a second crack at the title with a 6-3. 6-4. 7-6 win over llth-seeded Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti. with "'horn he once won the junior buys doubles title here.