LIVE: Aussies whacked by brutal Brisbane draw

Aussies have copped a brutal draw as action kicks off at the Brisbane international.

Three all-Aussie affairs headline the first round, which will see Alexei Popyrin take on Chris O’Connell, Jordan Thompson battle Aleksandar Vukic and Thanasi Kokkinakis clash with Rinky Hijikata.

But one Aussie who won’t have a countryman down the other end is Max Purcell. He’ll have top-seeded Holder Rune instead.

“I think with the amount of Australians in the draw, not having to play an Aussie is nice,” Purcell said.

“I kind of hoped to play anyone but that, I guess I got my wish. What better way to start the year, than playing against the No.1 seed?”

On the women’s side, there is only one all-Australian affair. Kim Birrell will battle Olivia Gadecki.