Russian Maria Kirilenko upheld her top seeding to collect her third title of the year Sunday in Seoul, coming from a set down to defeat unseeded Aussie Sam Stosur 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. Stosur dropped to 0-4 lifetime in tour singles finals.

If you are a Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fan you have to like what you are seeing from your guy. Earlier today in Bangkok, Tsonga avenged an Australian Open final loss to Novak Djokovic, defeating the Serb 7-6(4), 6-4 to claim his first career ATP title at the Thailand Open.

The 2009 Davis Cup draw is now out, and if the stars show up round one will offer plenty of attractive, intriguing matchups come early March.

Things went pretty much according to form this weekend in Davis Cup. Spain rolled up on a game U.S. team, 4-1, while Argentina v. Russia went right down to the decider, with the Gaucho Nation coming through on the back of hero Juan Martin Del Potro to win 3-2.

“Today I play an almost perfect match and it is very, very exciting,” Nadal said. “Today I played very well. I shocked myself with some of the winners I played, was near perfect tennis.” The U.S. had chances in the opening singles Friday when Sam Querrey led Nadal by a set and a break, and Roddick led David Ferrer two sets to one before falling in five.

The Davis Cup is back in focus this weekend with the World Group semifinals and an assortment of interesting, if not intriguing, qualifying playoff ties.

“I aggravated it pretty bad at the Open and only made things worse,” said the left-handed Bob, who received a cortisone shot prior to the US Open. “I knew if I wanted a chance to play the rest of this year, I had to shut it down now. I can’t even hit any balls.”

We are a week removed and the tennis world is still buzzing over Roger Federer’s US Open triumph.

HOW SOON WE FORGET: Max Eisenbud of IMG, Maria Sharapova’s manager: “The way women’s tennis is being played, if you’re not at least a six-footer and can’t hit hard and deep and never miss, you have no chance.” Uh, ever heard of Justine Henin? She was 5-foot-5 and was No. 1 by a mile before retiring earlier this year. Maybe Google her.

Rafa may have an issue with New York. To Nadal’s credit he plays every point with utmost effort and toughness. New York draws out reserves of toughness from more fragile players. Therefore, relative to his competition, Rafa’s intensity advantage declines at Flushing Meadows.