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Australian Alexei Popyrin is through to the second round at the ATP Tour's Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina, while Andy Murray lost in straight sets.

Australian Alexei Popyrin has advanced to the second round of the ATP Tour's Winston-Salem Open after a three-set win over Brazilian Thiago Monteiro in a rain-interrupted clash.

The 20-year-old world No.106 had his nose in front of Monteiro before play was suspended for about five hours due to heavy rain.

But Popyrin, who blasted 16 aces and converted his single break point, held his nerve in the third set tiebreaker to win 5-7 6-4 7-6 (9-7).

The result sees him advance to a meeting with 13th-seeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic.

Meanwhile, former world No.1 Andy Murray has lost his second successive singles match on return from a seven-month layoff following hip surgery.

Murray lost to American world No.73 Tennys Sandgren 7-6 (10-8) 7-5 in two hours and 11 minutes.

The Scot recovered from a 3-0 deficit in the second set to claw back to 5-5.

But Sandgren, who fired 11 aces, closed out the match with an approach shot winner to book a second round tie with Canadian world No.38 Denis Shapovalov on centre court.

Murray lost to Frenchman Richard Gasquet in the first round of the Cincinnatti Open last week and won't compete in the upcoming US Open.

Australian 14th seed John Millman had a first-up bye and is drawn to face Italian Marco Cecchinato, who advanced to the second round when Alexander Bublik retired in their opening match, on Wednesday.

Duckhee Lee, the first deaf professional on the ATP Tour, secured a straight sets win in his debut main draw match against Switzerland's Henri Laaksonen.

The 21-year-old Korean defeated Laaksonen 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 but was made to wait for hours for the rain to clear when just two points shy of victory.

World No.212 Lee, who will face third-seeded Pole Hubert Hurkacz in the second round, told the ATP he can only hear loud noises like car horns or people screaming.

"I cannot hear the ball or anyone making calls on court - I really focus on the ball and the gestures of my opponent," he said.

Despite the rain delay, Lee said he felt right at home in the American summer.

"I am really excited to be here ... I am excited, nervous and will do my best," he said.

"I do well in hot weather. My nickname in Korean media is 'Guy of Summer'. I love the heat here."