Madrid, Spain, 10 May 2017 | AAP

A highly-anticipated first ATP match-up between Australians Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic has failed to eventuate with the latter bowing out in the opening round of the Madrid Open.

Tomic had his moments against American Ryan Harrison but went down 7-5 4-6 6-2 in 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Kyrgios had done his part the day before in a straight sets first round defeat of Marcos Baghdatis, advancing to play the winner of the Tomic-Harrison match.

But Tomic faded in the deciding set on Tuesday to ensure there’d be no all-Australian second-round fixture.

After struggling on serve early, Tomic worked his way into the first set before Harrison stole a break just as it appeared headed for a tiebreak.

A rough call on game point to Tomic inflamed Harrison at 3-3 in the second set and while the Australian handed the break straight back he won the next two games to take the match into a decider.

It was largely the 47th-ranked American from there on in, Tomic failing to win a game from 2-2 with two service breaks.

The loss marks the 39th-ranked Australian’s seventh in first round matches this year but Tomic has at least shown some improved form in the last few weeks, including a quarterfinal appearance at Istanbul.