Best match-ups to hope for in the 2019 ATP season

The new season will bring a lot of story lines and action from all around the globe. One of everyone's favorite things to do is zone in on rivalries. The 2019 season will see established rivalries continue (thanks to the continued dominance of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal), but some budding ones flourish.

Let's take a look at five exciting match-ups to hope for:

1

Head-to-head record: Nadal leads 23-15

Last meeting: 2017 Shanghai final (Federer won 6-4, 6-3)

Stories, movies and books have been created for their storied rivalry but it's not over yet. While Nadal holds the obvious lead, Federer flipped the script on the Spaniard by beating him the five times, dating all the way back to the 2014 Australian Open.

2

Head-to-head record: Thiem leads 3-2

Last meeting: 2018 Rogers Cup third round (Tsitsipas won 6-3, 7-6(6)

These two are building up a tremendous rivalry as 20-year-old Tsitsipas has established himself at the top of the tour after a breakthrough season. He's up to No. 15, just seven spots behind Thiem. All five of their showdowns happened in 2018, which is quite a volume and may not be repeated in 2019.

3

Head-to-head record: Federer leads 3-0

Last meeting: 2018 US Open third round (Federer won 6-4, 6-1, 7-5)

Federer tends to bring out the best in anyone he plays, and it's especially true for Nick Kyrgios. The unpredictable Australian stunned Federer in their first meeting back in 2015. After that, the 37-year-old Swiss has taken control, but five of their nine sets have gone to a tiebreaker.

4

Head-to-head record: Nadal leads 11-6

Last meeting: 2018 US Open semifinals (Del Potro won 7-6 (3), 6-2, RET)

While their most recent meeting ended in disappointment, the contest before that a five-set epic in the Wimbledon quarterfinals (which Nadal won). Both need to be healthy for any great matches to take place again, but given their ability to comeback from any setback, it's likely we'll see a few more Delpo-Rafa battles in the near future.

5

Head-to-head record: Coric leads 2-0

Last meeting: 2018 Miami fourth round (Coric won 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-4)

They faced off twice in 2018 and both matches went to three sets. Coric, at 22, is the more established "veteran" so to speak but expect the Canadian teenager to arm wrestle for the spotlight. Shapovalov raised his ranking to No. 27 in 2018, while Coric is up to No. 13.

Yes, somehow Djokovic isn't on this list, but it's mostly because he's got so many rivalries. Fans will lap up any chance to see him take on Federer or Nadal in 2019, obviously, but he's got an interesting track record against others including Kyrgios, Thiem and Alexander Zverev.