At that point, the courts were underwater.

But the country's brightest junior prospects were hard at it yesterday on the pristine grass of the Albury Tennis Centre.

The grey skies of a week ago were a far cry from the cloudless blue sky on Monday – likewise the positively balmy top of 20 degrees.

As for the courts themselves?

Barely even a single drop of water in sight.

“I had my doubts about this week, there hasn't really been enough heat for the grass to come through,” Shanahan said.

“But the curator, Shayne Ried, has just done an incredible job once again.

“Everybody is loving it, a lot of these kids have never played on grass before so it's a great opportunity for them to come up here and experience something new.”