Gaudio, the 10th seed who won the clay court grand slam in 2004, is expected to meet in the quarter-final fellow Argentine David Nalbandian, the third seed whom he beat in the semi-finals two years ago.

    Russian 18th seed Elena Likhovtseva, who reached the semi-finals last year, suffered an early exit as she lost 6-1, 6-1 to Croatia's Karolina Sprem.

    Swiss seventh seed Patty Schnyder made light work of Dutch teenager Michaella Krajicek, winning their first round match 6-1, 6-2.

    Italy's ninth seed Francesca Schiavone booked her spot in the second round with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ukraine's Alona Bondarenko.

    In other women's matches, Slovakia's Jarmila Gajdosova overcame wild card Stephanie Cohen-Aloro of France 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, and Serb Jelena Jankovic swept past Spaniard Laura Pous Tio 7-5, 6-4.

    Later on Monday, defending champion Rafael Nadal will attempt to break Guillermo Vilas's record of 53 consecutive wins on clay when he opens his campaign against Swede Robin Soderling.

    Belgian second seed Kim Clijsters, twice a runner-up at Roland Garros, takes on France's Virginie Razzano and number 11 Venus Williams plays Austrian Sybille Bammer. Enditem