New York ? Top-ranked Dinara Safina lost Saturday night at the U.S. Open, a 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5) defeat at the hands of 72nd-ranked Petra Kvitova.

Safina will keep the No. 1 ranking despite the third-round loss but also will remain without a major title.

She struggled mightily in a pair of three-set victories to start the tournament, averaging 43 unforced errors and 13 double faults in the first two rounds.

Seventeen-year-old Melanie Oudin’s defeated Maria Sharapova!, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, to reach the fourth round.

“I just had a blast,” said Oudin, of Marietta, Ga., who buried her face in a towel and sobbed on the sideline when the match ended.

Several hours later, on the same court, another unheralded American pulled off another upset of a past U.S. Open champion: 55th-ranked John Isner pounded 38 aces and eliminated No. 5 Andy Roddick, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 7-6 (5), to reach the fourth round at a major tournament for the first time.

Roddick is the first of the top 16 men to lose this week. He won the 2003 Open and came oh-so-close to winning Wimbledon in July, but he now must resume his pursuit of a second career major title next year.

Instead, it’s the 6-foot-9 Isner who moves on, thanks to some outstanding serving and success at the net: He won 42 of 67 points when he pushed forward.

Sharapova, it bears noting, double-faulted 21 times, the most by a woman in any 2009 tour match.

SOCCER

Wizards end skid

Foxborough, Mass. — Josh Wolff had two goals, and the Kansas City Wizards snapped a seven-game winless streak with a 4-2 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday night. Wolff scored the game-winning goal in the 73rd minute and added a second tally as the Wizards (6-10-6) fought off two second-half goals by the 10-man Revolution (9-7-6) to give interim coach Peter Vermes his first victory. It was Kansas City’s first win since a 3-1 victory over New England on June 13.

NFL

Chiefs release LB Thomas

Kansas City, Mo. — Seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Zach Thomas has been released by the Kansas City Chiefs after failing to appear in any preseason games. The 36-year-old Thomas was released Saturday along with 12 other players. The fifth-round pick by Miami in 1996 signed with the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent after playing last season with Dallas.

The Chiefs were counting on his veteran presence to help smooth the transition to a 3-4 defense under first-year head coach Todd Haley. But Thomas was injured early in training camp and never returned. The Chiefs never specified his injury.

Other players cut included Bernard Pollard, who started the past two years at safety, and veteran wide receiver Ashley Lelie. Guard Colin Brown was placed on injured reserve.

Washington waives Daniel

Ashburn, Va. — The winner between the ex-Heisman Trophy contenders battling for the Washington Redskins third-string quarterback job? Try “none of the above.”

The Redskins placed Colt Brennan on injured reserve because of hip and hamstring injuries, and his competition for the job, Chase Daniel, was one of the final cuts Saturday as the team reduced its roster to 53 for the regular season.

Raiders cut QB Garcia

Alameda, Calif. — Quarterback Jeff Garcia, who was signed by Oakland in the offseason to push JaMarcus Russell and serve as a mentor to the former No. 1 overall draft pick, was among 22 players let go by the Raiders on Saturday.

Giants release Tyree

East Rutherford, N.J. — Super Bowl hero David Tyree has been released by the New York Giants. Mark Clouser, who along with his brother Michael represents Tyree, confirmed the move on Saturday.

Texans keep Grossman

Houston — Rex Grossman’s performance in Houston’s final preseason game not only earned him a spot on the final roster, it gave him a chance to be the Texans’ backup quarterback. Grossman missed most of the preseason because of a hamstring injury.

Bills release RB Rhodes

Buffalo, N.Y. — Veteran running back Dominic Rhodes was released Saturday by the Buffalo Bills, who shook up their offense a day after firing coordinator Turk Schonert.

Ex-Titans lineman dies

Knoxville, Tenn. — Former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona has died after being involved in a car accident. He was 26. Agent Chad Speck said Mahelona died Friday night after being involved in an accident about a mile from his home in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Packers send Moll to Ravens

Green Bay, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers have traded offensive lineman Tony Moll to the Baltimore Ravens for defensive back Derrick Martin.

GOLF

O’Hair, Furyk share lead

Norton, Mass. — Sean O’Hair shot a 7-under 64 for a share of the lead with Jim Furyk after 36 holes Saturday at the Deutsche Bank Championship. O’Hair and Furyk, who made six birdies in his 67, played in the same group with Retief Goosen, who had a 67 and wound up two shots behind. Tiger Woods shot a 67 and was seven shots behind. O’Hair and Furyk were at 12-under 130, two shots clear of Goosen and Marc Leishman, who had a tournament-low 62.

Pettersen up by five

Priddis, Alberta — Suzann Pettersen moved into position to end her 43-tournament winless streak, shooting a 5-under 66 at windy Priddis Greens to take a five-stroke lead into the final round of the Canadian Women’s Open. She had a 14-under 199 total after opening with rounds of 65 and 68.

Roberts tops First Tee Open

Pebble Beach, Calif. — Loren Roberts closed on his second straight Champions Tour title, shooting a 6-under 66 at Pebble Beach to take a two-stroke lead over Mark O’Meara in the Walmart First Tee Open. Roberts, coming off a one-stroke victory over O’Meara last week in the Boeing Classic in Washington, had a 12-under 132 total. He opened with a 66 on Friday at Del Monte.

AUTO RACING

Harvick Nationwide winner

Hampton, Ga. — Kevin Harvick led most of the race and then passed Dale Earnhardt Jr. with two laps left to regain the lead and win the Degree V12 300 Nationwide Series race on Saturday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Truex wins Atlanta pole

Hampton, Ga. — Martin Truex Jr. won his first pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday. Truex won the pole for tonight’s Pep Boys Auto 500 with his lap of 184.149 mph on Saturday.

Skinner wins truck race

Newton, Iowa — Mike Skinner pulled away after a late restart to win the first Camping World Trucks Series race at the Iowa Speedway. Skinner, a two-time winner this year, was running away from the field when the yellow flag came out because of debris with seven laps to go. They restarted with four laps remaining and Skinner pulled away in his Toyota to win by 1.370 seconds.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Manning to give $1 million

Knoxville, Tenn. — Peyton Manning and his wife, Ashley, will give $1 million to Tennessee for a new athletic training facility.

BASEBALL

Guillen out for season

Kansas City, Mo. — Royals outfielder Jose Guillen is out for the rest of the season because of a right knee injury.

Guillen missed 37 games due to a ligament tear in his knee, but was activated from the disabled list Tuesday. He struck out as a pinch hitter that day and was the starting designated hitter Wednesday, but left after only two at-bats with pain in his right hamstring.

Guillen, who also was on the DL in April because of a partial tear of his right hip flexor tendon, appeared in only 81 games this year, hitting .242 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs.

CYCLING

Cancellara leads in Spain

Valencia, Spain — Fabian Cancellara of Switzerland won a rainy individual time trial to retake the overall lead at the Spanish Vuelta.