Fresh from yet another memorable final against long-time rival Rafael Nadal at the Shanghai Masters, Swiss maestro Roger Federer has shed light on what he makes of the future of the sport. 

The veteran shared his optimism for the future of the sport, stating that he is impressed by the next generation of tennis players, while also sharing some words of wisdom for these promising stars in order for them to make the leap from ATP success to Grand Slam winners.

Federer has named the likes of Denis Shapovalov, Alexander Zverev, Nick Kyrgios, and Dominc Thiem as some of the rising stars in the game who are already on the path to success. 

At the tender age of just 18, Shapovalov burst onto the scene this summer, first reaching the semis in Montreal, followed by a fourth-round appearance at the US Open. 

Thiem, 24, on the other hand, managed to reach the semi-finals of the French Open showing his promise on clay. 

Young German Alexander Zverev has climbed as high as fourth in the ATP rankings in a season where he managed to win two Masters 1000 titles, while Kyrgios, 22, has managed to reach the quarter-final of both the Australian Open and Wimbledon in the past. 

Federer is convinced that these competitors can take the sport to the next level, but has picked out six crucial factors they must develop in order to make the transition from being a promising player to a legend. 

"(To be a legend), you need hard work, passion, and a good team, good training facilities, and being able to withstand pressure, and understanding the tour, making it like the second home," he told Gulf News.

"It takes a little bit more time, but they are doing great.

"It’s nice to see these young talents in the tour, and they make tennis a better place and exciting for fans."