Memphis, TN, USA, 11 February 2014 | AFP

Fifth-seeded Australian Marinko Matosevic on Monday joined rising countryman Nick Kyrgios as a first-round loser at the US National Indoor Championships.

Czech Jiri Vesely made short work of 54th-ranked Matosevic with a 6-3 6-2 win.

Vesely, ranked 81st in the world converted four of seven break-point chances to notch his second ATP Tour match win.

Matosevic, who reached the semifinals last year in his Memphis debut, wasn’t the only seed to fall on the first day of competition in the $US647,000 ($A726,000) tournament.

US veteran Michael Russell rallied from a set down to beat seventh-seeded Michal Przysiezny of Poland 3-6 6-3 6-1.

Russell, 35, posted his first ATP match win of 2014 and next faces American Tim Smyczek, who beat Australian talent Kyrgios 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3.

Reigning champion Kei Nishikori of Japan is the top seed, but won’t launch his title defence until the second round after enjoying a first-round bye with second-seeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain, No.3 seed Lleyton Hewitt and fourth-seeded Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan.

Last year, Nishikori didn’t drop a set en route to the title, beating Lopez in the final 6-2 6-3.

He arrives in Tennessee for his title defence fresh from helping Japan reach the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinals for the first time with a 4-1 first-round victory over Canada earlier this month.