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Rising Australian tennis star Max Purcell is hoping to finish his breakout season in position to nab a seeding for his home grand slam in Melbourne.

No looking back, Max Purcell has his sights set on an Australian Open seeding after making a bittersweet first-round exit from the US Open in New York.

Australian tennis's surprise packet of the year offered no hard feelings after falling 6-4 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-5) to inspired countryman Chris O'Connell on Tuesday.

Purcell had arrived at Flushing Meadows with a lofty career-high ranking of No.43 in the world after winning 10 of his past 13 matches and reaching his maiden ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final in Cincinnati.

"It's tough playing against Australians," the 25-year-old said.

"I try not to think about it much on court but as soon as that last shot went into the net I was pumped that he won and good luck for him the rest of the tournament.

"Chris played really well. After the first two sets, I tried to change up what I was doing a little bit and it worked for patches there. It would have been interesting if it went to a fifth I think but he played really and deserved it."

Despite his premature exit, Purcell is only drawing positives from his breakout season.

In a remarkable transformation, the Sydneysider has morphed from 2022 Wimbledon doubles champion to top-50 singles star.

And he craves for more, with a top-32 ranking ahead of his home grand slam in January the next big goal.

"If you had have told me after Wimbledon with where my ankle was at that I would be sitting at 43 in the world I would take that, I would be stoked," Purcell said after being slated to edge up to 41st in the rankings after the final major of the year.

"It would be nice to hit Australia with a seed and not have to play a seeded player for the first two rounds would be great.

"I'm not saying the unseeded players aren't tough but it would be nice to kind of have that little number next to my name."

Purcell is also expecting a call-up from Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt for the Davis Cup round-of-16 stage in Manchester from September 12-17.

"It's going to be nice having the next two weeks basically off singles," he said.

"And depending on Davis Cup, if they want me to play singles as well, so I get a little reset before hitting Asia."