After fears the smoke haze could impact the start of the Margaret Court Cup play commenced as scheduled for the teams event at the Albury grasscourts on Thursday.
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Conditions improved across the Border with the air quality index falling between the levels playable under guidelines set out by Tennis Australia.
However, the recent bushfire crisis in the region saw the tournament drop from around 400 entrants to 350, with 50 players abandoning the event at the last minute due to fire and smoke concerns.
The Pacific region team will be absent from the tournament with 20 International Tennis Federation players no longer bound for the Border.
Teams from South Africa and Japan were keen to hit the courts upon their arrival in Albury, while the teams event also had a strong local showing to kick-start proceedings.
Three of the Border's young tennis stars taking to the court for the tournament include 12-year-old Indi Paton and 10-year-olds Lara Meagher and Ella McDonell.
While youngsters Paton and Meagher are no strangers to the annual Margaret Court Cup, it marks the first time competing at the event for McDonell.
Paton picked up a racquet for the first time two years ago and has already reached some major highlights on the court, including representing the North East region at the Alicia Molik Cup in Kooyong last year.
She said she's looking forward to playing in the under-12's competition over the next few days.
"I'm looking forward to the tournament and to meeting kids from all over different places," Paton said.
"It's good fun."
Meagher and McDonell are also coming off the back of a big year of tennis, with Meagher playing in the Wayne Arthurs Cup in Kooyong and McDonell contesting the Frank Sedgman Cup in Traralgon.
Following the Margaret Court Cup, Meagher is bound for the Australian Open in the under-10's.
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The girls will all contest their chosen singles events in the days to come.
The trio are also gearing up to travel to the United States later this year in July alongside Australian tennis legend Margaret Court.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Court's huge year claiming victories at all four major Grand Slam tournaments.
In what will be Paton's first time visiting the US, the talented junior said she was looking forward to the experience.
"It will be good to see some different places and to play lots of matches and tournaments," Paton said.
Day one of the Margaret Court Cup's main draw gets underway on Friday, with air quality and heat levels to be determined each day before play commences.
