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Jordan Thompson has won his first-round match at the ATP Tour's Atlanta Open but his fellow Australian Alexei Popyrin lost his opener.

Jordan Thompson has advanced to the second round of the ATP Tour's Atlanta Open but his fellow Australian Alexei Popyrin exited in the opening round.

Thompson toughed it out against eighth-seeded Lloyd Harris to prevail 7-6 (7-2) 1-6 6-2.

Popyrin was defeated 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 by Steve Johnson, in a match that was dominated by the serve.

Nick Kyrgios will begin his campaign at the ATP 250 event against veteran South African Kevin Anderson on Wednesday (AEST) while qualifier Chris O'Connell face American Denis Kudla.

World No.63 Thompson fought back from dropping his serve in the 11th game of the first set to force a tiebreaker and close it out comfortably.

The momentum swung the way of South African Harris when he broke serve twice on his way to levelling the match at one set all.

Thompson composed himself and made the most of his opportunities in the deciding set.

He broke Harris in his final three service games to seal victory on his second match point.

Four-time ATP Tour title winner Johnson needed just one hour 15 minutes to dispatch Popyrin - who was unable to earn a single break-point opportunity.

Johnson served 12 aces to the 11 of Popyrin, with the only break of the match coming in the sixth game of the second set.