Top WTA rivalries to watch for in the new season

It's always fun when you see two rivals in a draw getting closer and closer to a colossal showdown. While some veterans are still going strong in 2019 (like Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams), there are many new rivalries blossoming and carrying a lot of potential.

Here are five matches to hope for in the new year:

1

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

Last meeting: 2018 US Open final (Osaka won, 6-2, 6-4)

Naomi Osaka is the newest "it girl" on the WTA tour and she ticked off another idol on her list of dream matches when she beat Serena Williams in Miami. The world No. 5 stunned the 23-time Grand Slam champion again in a controversial US Open final, marking her first career major. If Williams wants to secure Slam No. 24 in 2019, she'll likely need to find a solution for Osaka's similarly powerful game.

2

​Head-to-head record: Halep leads 6-4

Last meeting: 2018 French Open quarterfinals (Halep won 6-7 (2), 6-3, 6-2)

World No. 3 Angelique Kerber will be eager for revenge after two tough losses to the world No. 1-ranked Halep in 2018. The Romanian won a 9-7 third set in the Australian Open semifinals and then came back from a one-set deficit on her way to her first Grand Slam title in Paris. With both players utilizing similar defensive strategies, there will be more marathons between them in the coming season.

3

​Head-to-head record: Osaka leads 1-0

Last meeting: 2018 US Open fourth round (Osaka won 6-3, 2-6, 6-4)

The 20-year-olds only faced off once in their young careers but there's little doubt there are a lot of big power showdowns in their future. Osaka dropped just one set on her way to winning the title in New York, and it was against Sabalenka. The Belarusian is still coming into her own game but rose all the way to No. 13 behind her biggest career crown in Wuhan.

4

​Head-to-head record: Stephens leads 3-0

Last meeting: 2018 French Open semifinals (Stephens won 6-4, 6-4)

The two friends have been through a lot together, including a lopsided US Open final in 2017 that Stephens won for her first major. Madison Keys is still seeking her first Grand Slam with Stephens stopping her once again, this time in the semifinals in Paris. She'll need to find a better solution in 2019 to finally break down Stephens' all-around game.

5

​Head-to-head record: Serena leads 18-12

Last meeting: US Open third round (Serena won 6-1, 6-2)

With Serena turn 37 years old in 2018 and her big sister turning 38, there's only so many matches left between these two history-making sisters. Serena struggled a little bit to regain her form after having her first child in September of 2017, losing handily to Venus in Indian Wells. When Serena found her complete game again, Venus didn't stand a chance in New York. Who knows what they have left in the tank but the world is hoping for at least one more Grand Slam final.

It's also hard to talk about matches to look forward to without special mention of Serena and Maria Sharapova. Their "rivalry" is lopsided with Serena leading 19-2 but everyone, maybe even Sharapova, was disappointed when Serena had to withdraw from their Roland Garros showdown.