AUSTRIAN Thomas Muster profited from a 90 minute pause for rain in his quarter final of the Monte Carlo Open to regather his concentration and defeat Dutch teenager Sjeng Schalken 5-7, 6-1, 6-4.

The match was interrupted with world number 65 Schalken leading 6-5 in the first set as drizzle began to fall. Muster, ranked number two on the ATP computer, wanted to play on but finally bad to cede to the chair umpire.

"If it's possible to play, let's play," said the French Open champion and Monte Carlo title holder. "Would you close a shop if it were supposed to be open?"

The delay probably did the Austrian good, as he came back to win the next two sets with relative ease.