Boris Becker has set up a second round clash with British number one Greg Rusedski after scraping to victory over Dutchman Jan Siemerink at the Monte Carlo Open yesterday.

The 30-year-old German, three times a finalist in the competition but without a clay title in his career, looked like becoming a victim of 29year-old Siemerink, who had to qualify to earn a place in the Mercedes Super 9 field.

But Becker dug deep on a sunny day, breaking in the seventh game of the second set and levelling at one set each with another break.

The German continued to dominate in the final set, eventually winning a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1.

"I've been coming here since I was a junior in 1983," said Becker, who will face a real test against third-seed Rusedski. "I love to play here.

"I'm glad to have won the first round. With the sun shining on this centre court, it is inspiring to play tennis. This is what we practise for."

Becker has won both his two previous meetings with Rusedski, the first a marathon five-setter in the first round of the 1996 Australian Open and the other a straightforward 6-4, 6-4 win in Stuttgart the same year.

Nicolas Kiefer scored the first upset of the week as he hammered Spanish ninth seed Felix Mantilla 61 6-4.

Australian Mark Philippoussis, the 13th seed who has fallen out with his compatriots on the country's Davis Cup team after he refused to play this month in what turned into a loss to Zimbabwe in the first round, found his clay court form early in a win over Spaniard Julian Alonso 7-6 (11/9), 4-6, 6-4.

With the injury absence of world number one Marcelo Rios of Chile, American Pete Sampras is almost assured of getting his top ranking spot back.

The American must wait for a first-round match between Barcelona winner Todd Martin and Andre Agassi to know whom he will play in the second round after a bye.

Rusedski, who has a bye in the first round, is likely to face Becker tomorrow, but 11th seed Tim Henman should play the 21-year-old Spanish qualifier Galo Blanco in a first round match today.