It was 36°C, but only fell away to be 34°C by 8pm.
It was blazing weather for competitive tennis and a reminder that the Christmas cheer might be over, but the waistline for many players was telling a different story.
The club welcomed back a number of players who generally miss the spring competition because of farming and harvesting commitments.
There were also 13 new players to the club.
One of those was Henry Pisasale - son of Sophie and Benjy - who has graduated from the junior club to play with the senior comp.
In his first outing, Henry won one of his three sets, playing against Monte Barnes.
He won 13 games out of a possible 18.
Well done, Henry, and welcome to the senior competition.
With so many new players, bringing the total number to more than 100, the grading committee had the usual difficulty.
Perhaps the one-sided results in both matches highlighted these difficulties.
Deni Newsagency faced off against Legal Eagles over nine courts and 27 sets.
The Eagles won the match 20 sets and 142 games, to seven sets 96 games.
Pip Metcalfe and Annie Romanin were three set winners for Eagles, along with male players Jack McGrillen, Jamie Chadderton, Jamie Howard and Rob Sobolewski.
The match ups had Jarryd Lowry facing off against father Steve Lowry, both playing on the third line.
In total, they played 30 games over three sets.
So who had the bragging rights for the evening? Well, it was Jarryd winning two sets to his father’s one set.
Steve was not totally convinced he had lost the match, as he won 16 of the 30 games to Jarryd's 14. It was a strange match.
The match between Peppin Planners and Mitre 10 saw the latter take the win, 21 sets and 147 games to Peppin’s seven sets and 109 games.
Peppin was discombobulated after a few late withdrawals.
Nine sets were decided by a tie-breaker games, which is a sudden death quick ending to a set that can really go either way.
After the scarifying of the courts before Christmas, the courts are taking their time in the hot weather to get an all over lushness about them.
Some areas are showing the effect of the continuing hot weather.
We are certain that cooler days and a couple of falls of rain will even up the courts and set up the courts for the Easter Tournament/Western Riverina Championships.
Junior tennis at the tennis club starts off again tomorrow.
~ Report contributed by Clive Gow
