Three-times defending champion Rafael Nadal is due to make a belated start to his French Open campaign.

The heavens opened as the Spanish second seed was preparing to take to Centre Court on Monday against Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci, a man who has just one ATP Tour match win to his name so far this season.

Nadal, unbeaten at Roland Garros since 2005, is firmly expected to book a place in round two against another qualifier, Frenchman Nicolas Devilder.

Fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer meets unseeded Belgian Steve Darcis while Juan Carlos Ferrero, the 2003 champion and the only man to beat Nadal on clay since last year's Hamburg final, plays Brazil's Marcos Daniel.

Fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko will open the action on Court Suzanne Lenglen against former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson.

Women's top seed Maria Sharapova is also due to enter the fray on Tuesday when she faces fellow Russian Evgeniya Rodina, a 19-year-old ranked 103rd in the world, in the last match scheduled for Centre Court.

Britain's number one Andy Murray is next due on court on Wednesday when he plays Argentine Jose Acasuso in the second round.

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