Even though the WTA and ATP tours are still waiting for a comeback until August, the professional tennis circuit has started brewing with moves to lift up the spirits.

On Tuesday, world number one Novak Djokovic announced Marin Cilic and Borna Coric will be joining the Adria Tour he hosted across the Balkans from June 13-July 5.

The 2014 U.S. Open winner Cilic and 23-year-old Coric will join a formidable field including world No.3 Dominic Thiem, world No.7 Alexander Zverev and world No.19 Grigor Dimitrov who already signed up for the event.

"I thank Marin and Borna for joining the tour without asking for any financial compensation," said Djokovic.

"I have known both of them for a long time, they are great guys and we are good friends, so I am really looking forward to meeting up with them in Zadar."

"Marin is one of the best players ever from this part of the world while Borna has the potential to break into the top five on the men's ATP Tour."

The four-leg tour, which was launched to support humanitarian projects across the region, will be held across the Balkans with the kick-off tournament to take place in Belgrade. The series will then move to Croatia's coastal resort Zadar where Cilic and Coric will take center stage in front of their home fans.

The final two legs of the tour are provisionally to be held in Montenegro and Bosnia, but Djokovic revealed at a news conference about the tour on Monday they might have to be moved if the infrastructure is not completed in time.

"I'll do everything in my power to be a good host," said the world number one.

Meanwhile, Djokovic also revealed he didn't invite Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the Adria Tour because he simply didn't believe they would accept the invitation.

"Me, Federer and Nadal have been communicating more than we usually do due to the coronavirus pandemic changes and the situation regarding the help to the lower-ranked players," Djokovic said quoted by Sport Klub.

World TeamTennis to allow up to 500 fans at matches

World TeamTennis, an innovative mixed-gender professional tennis league, will start from July 12 at the Greenbrier, West Virginia, and up to 500 fans will be allowed to attend matches during its three-week season, tournament organizers said on Tuesday.

The move makes the WTT the first major professional tennis league to resume operations since the global coronavirus pandemic suspended the pro tennis circuit.

Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin and 2017 U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens competing for their respective franchise, are set to take part in the event.

"All of us are extremely grateful to be able to play the 45th World TeamTennis season and present professional tennis to our sports-starved and tennis-starved audiences," said WTT chief executive Carlos Silva.

"The overwhelming feedback from our players is that they want to play WTT and are comfortable in doing so in a safe environment, which is our number one priority. West Virginia has among the nation's fewest cases of COVID-19."

According to West Virginia health guidelines, a 20 percent capacity of the resort's outdoor stadium will be allowed, which means up to 500 spectators will be able to attend.

The WTT plans a 63-match regular season from July 19-30 with the semi-finals on August 1 and the championship match the following day.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover image: Sofia Kenin of the United States celebrates in her women's singles final match against Garbine Muguruza of Spain on day thirteen of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, February 1, 2020. /VCG)