Organisers of Albury's Margaret Court Cup say the annual tournament is still going ahead "at this stage" despite the region's bushfire crisis.
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Almost 400 players from 11 countries are expected to converge on the Border for the tournament, which is scheduled to get underway with the teams event on Thursday. However, smoke remains a deciding factor as it continues to blanket the region and affect air quality.
Cup organiser Phil Shanahan said tournament officials will be guided by Tennis Australia's heat and smoke policy which states, "if the smoke presents any danger, through reduction in visibility or ability to breathe properly, then play must be suspended or cancelled and all patrons removed to a safe area".
"People are still enquiring every day about whether the tournament will be happening," Shanahan said.
People are still enquiring every day about whether the tournament will be happening.
- Phil Shanahan
"At this stage, we're just a little bit unsure with everything.
"Who knows what the winds will do."
Junior cricket and local horse racing meets have been the most recent organised sporting events to pull the pin due to poor air quality, with an international tennis tournament relocated from Canberra to Bendigo last Friday.
Tournament entry numbers are down on last year's total of 420, with the tournament taking place a week later than its usual slot.
The tournament will run from January 9-14 with the Victorian Junior Grass Court Championships to follow directly after from January 15-19.
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In what is a busy month of sport, the Border will also host the Australian Country Junior Basketball Cup in the coming weeks.
Shanahan said the absence of a Northern Territory team this year has impacted numbers.
However, he believes the bushfires haven't deterred players from entering the tournament this year.
"If they had have been here we would have had pretty much the same or a bit more than last year," Shanahan said.
The Margaret Court Cup is also set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Court completing the Grand Slam, winning single events at the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in 1970.
Australian tennis great Judy Dalton will open the Cup at the Albury Grasscourts as part of the celebrations.
Dalton won five grand slams alongside Court in doubles and is an Australian Hall of Fame inductee.
The Victorian Junior Grasscourt Championships have received 315 player entries with games to take place at the Wodonga Tennis Centre.
"A lot of the players coming here, especially from overseas, are coming for both tournaments," Shanahan said.
The third consecutive tournament scheduled this month, the All Stars Junior Tournament, will then be held in Yarrawonga from January 20 to 23.
