STOCKHOLM (AFP) - French veteran Arnaud Clement broke a losing streak lasting almost five months with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of German Andreas Beck at the Stockholm Open Tuesday.

Former Australian Open finalist Clement, without a win since Roland Garros, turned the tables on his bad luck in dramatic fashion with the upset of the fifth seed after qualifying into the field at the Kungligahallen.

The 31-year-old's season had been a huge disappointment since winning his French Open first round against Russian Dmitry Tursunov, with the world number 138 falling in seven matches since that success on May 27.

Clement is playing this week for the first time in a month after going out in the Metz opening round as a lucky loser to Serb Janko Tipsaravic.

The Frenchman's win was his eight of the season against 17 defeats and left Beck, the Gstaad winner on clay in August, standing 22-20.

"It was much better today," said Clement.

"I've been losing in the first round of Challenger events in the past few weeks but I'm starting to play much better.

"I've won a few matches in the last few days and it's great for my confidence."

"I wasn't feeling great physically in the last few months and lost all my confidence. Winning qualifying matches has helped me find my form, and winning my first main draw match since Roland Garros against a seed helps a lot."

"I will play a qualifier next, so it's a nice opportunity to progress further but I can't take anything for granted."

The number 37 Beck, at fifth the only seed on court during Day two, saved a pair of match points in the penultimate game but eventually fell to Clement's overwhelming superiority on the day.

Clement broke three times while saving the only two break points he faced.

He next plays German Michael Berrer, who won a battle of qualifiers over rising Finn Henri Kontinen, the 19-year-old 2008 junior Wimbledon finalist, 7-5, 7-6 (9/7).

Brazil's Tomas Bellucci booked into the second round over Dane Frederik Nielsen 7-6 (8/6), 6-3.

Top seed and home favourite Robin Soderling goes into action Wednesday against Giovanni Lapentti of Ecuador, with the Roland Garros finalist standing on provisional ninth for one of two spots left in the eight-man World Tour Finals from November 22 in London.

Andy Roddick claimed the sixth qualifying spot with Fernando Verdasco and Soderling the next pair in the queue.

"I?m not counting points, but I hope I can do well enough to make it to London," said Soderling.

"All I can do is try and win every match. I want to do everything I can to qualify."