Australian Open organisers will be hoping both smoke and rain stay away as they attempt to complete round one of qualifying on Thursday.
Smoke delayed the scheduled start on day two before an afternoon storm forced the cancellation of play at around 4.30pm, with a number of Australian combatants out on court.
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 over the weekend if required.
Showers are forecast for Thursday morning but expected to clear after lunch.
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.
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 the deluge hit.
Fellow Queenslander, teenager Rinky Hijikata was going toe-to-toe with second-seeded Swiss Henri Laaksonen, with the youngster 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 taking on 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 .