Australian Open qualifying has started on time after both smoke and rain stayed away, with organisers hopeful they will be able to complete round one on Thursday.

Tournament officials remain optimistic they can complete the three rounds of qualifying – with 16 players from both the men’s and women’s entries advancing to the main draw – before the Open starts on Monday.

They can play during the weekend if required.

Showers were forecast for Thursday morning but so far it has been all clear at Melbourne Park.

A number of Australians will be out on court throughout the day and night.

Victorian Jaimee Fourlis was mid-match against China’s Fang Yin Xun, with the pair level at one set all when play was called off for the day on Thursday afternoon when a storm hit.

Queenslander Kaylah McPhee was also in a tight tussle against Greet Minnen with the Belgian slightly ahead in the third set to lead 6-3 2-6 2-1.

Olivia Rogowska and Storm Sanders never made it on to court before Wednesday’s deluge hit and will both play later Thursday.

Fellow Queenslander Rinky Hijikata was going toe-to-toe with second-seeded Swiss Henri Laaksonen, with the teenager leading their first set tiebreak 3-0.

In other action on Thursday, Belinda Woolcock takes on women’s qualifying top seed, Romanian Ana Bogdan.

Maddison Inglis also has a big challenge against former Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard.

Meanwhile, at the Open warm-up tournament at Kooyong Nick Kyrgios takes on Grigor Dimitrov before 2019 Open semi-finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas faces Matteo Berrettini.

In the final match Maria Sharapova squares off with Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.