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Australians Max Purcell, Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis are into the main draw, joining Alex de Minaur, of the ATP 1000 Cincinnati Masters.

Australia's Max Purcell, Jordan Thompson and Thanasi Kokkinakis have won through qualifying to reach the main draw of the ATP 1000 Cincinnati Masters.

With the start to the US Open at Flushing Meadows just a fortnight away, the 78th-ranked Purcell upset 56th-ranked countryman Alexei Popyrin 6-7 (6-8) 7-5 6-4 in just less than three hours to book a first-round match with South Africa's Lloyd Harris, who's ranked 188th.

Thompson, ranked 55 and seeded fourth in the qualifying draw, beat 88th-ranked Swiss Marc-Andrea Huesler 6-3 6-4 to seal a first-round meeting with John Isner, the 208cm, 38-year-old American veteran who gained a wildcard entry to the hardcourt tournament.

The 86th-ranked Kokkinakis dug deep in a second set tiebreaker to score a tough three-set win over Colombia's Daniel Elahi Galan, 5-7 7-6 (9-7) 6-2, and will meet world No.17 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland.

Alex de Minaur completes the four-man Australian contingent, with the world No.12 to play 43rd-ranked American JJ Wolf in the opening round.

As first round action began on Sunday, 10th seed Frances Tiafoe of the US overcame Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-4, while Ben Shelton beat fellow American Christopher Eubanks 5-7 6-4 6-4 to seal a round-of-32 match against fourth-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

"I'm really happy to be back and happy to be through to the second round," Shelton, who made his Masters 1000 debut a year ago in Ohio, said in his on-court interview.

"It's always tough to play a friend and your doubles partner. I thought we played a really good level today."

Adrian Mannarino eliminated fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-3, and Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka advanced with a 6-4 7-5 victory over France's Gregoire Barrere.