Players practice in clearer air ahead of Australian Open

The smoke eased and the rain came and went to calm the nerves of organisers ahead of the opening Grand Slam tournament of the year in Melbourne next week.

Australian Open organisers attracted criticism earlier this week for continuing with the qualifying schedule despite the smoky conditions - Melbourne's Air Quality Index clocked 347 on Wednesday, six times the wrong wide of the stated minimum healthy level.

Conditions have improved markedly since and are now considered acceptable.

World number one Rafael Nadal and long-time rival Roger Federer took to centre court in the clear conditions on Thursday, but a storm is potentially brewing for the pair after Canadian world number 103 Brayden Schnur called the duo "selfish".

Schnur said Nadal and Federer aren't using their influence to speak up against the potentially hazardous playing conditions at Melbourne Park.