Clement sets up Montreal clash with in-form Roddick

MONTREAL, Aug 6 (Reuters) Frenchman Arnaud Clement set up a clash with in-form Andy Roddick at the Montreal Masters after seeing off Canadian wildcard Philip Bester 7-6 6-2 in the first round.

World number 30 Clement, ranked 615 places above his opponent, won a tough first set before easing through the second to seal a meeting with fifth seed Roddick.

American Roddick, champion in 2003, comes into the event fresh from winning his second title of the year at the Legg-Mason Classic in Washington.

Top seed Roger Federer and number two Rafael Nadal, together with the other leading eight seeds, receive byes into the second round.

In yesterday's other singles matches, there were wins for German Nicolas Kiefer and Czech Radek Stepanek.

Kiefer, playing just his fifth tournament of the season after missing more than a year because of a wrist injury, came from behind to beat Russian Dmitry Tursunov 1-6 6-4 6-3.

Stepanek cruised past Jonas Bjorkman 6-4 6-1 to record his first win over the veteran Swede in five meetings.

The highlight of today's action looks set to be the first-round match between two former world number ones, Lleyton Hewitt of Australia and Spaniard Carlos Moya.

REUTERS TB KP1022