ROME (AP) — Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka suffered a shock third-round loss to Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open on Saturday.
Sabalenka appeared to be cruising to victory while leading by a set and 2-0 but the 26th-ranked Cirstea stormed back to triumph 2-6, 6-3, 7-5.
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Romania's Sorana Cirstea reacts after winning the match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Romania's Sorana Cirstea, right, and Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka react at the end of the match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka gets medical assistance during the match against Romania's Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Romania's Sorana Cirstea reacts after winning the match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during the match against Romania's Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
It was a first win over a world No. 1 for the 36-year-old Romanian, who is playing her final pro season.
“I’m very, very happy,” a beaming Cirstea said. “Aryna is an amazing player. I thought I played really well today. I’m working really, really hard. It’s nice to have this result as payoff.”
Sabalenka appeared visibly bothered by lower back pain and called for a medical time out for treatment while down 4-3 in the final set.
“Felt like my body was limiting me from performing on the highest level,” Sabalenka said. "She stepped in and played incredible tennis. Didn’t really give me much opportunities. ... But I guess we never lose, we only learn, so it’s okay.
“Probably it’s my lower back, connected to the hip, which is limiting me from the full rotation. We are going to have some days off, spend it on recovery. That’s the plan for now.”
It was the second straight surprise exit for Sabalenka, who was upset by American Hailey Baptiste in the Madrid Open quarterfinals last week.
Cirstea will next play Linda Noskova in the round of 16.
Defending champion Jasmine Paolini was also out. The Italian wasted three match points in a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 loss to Elise Mertens in the third round.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Romania's Sorana Cirstea reacts after winning the match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Romania's Sorana Cirstea, right, and Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka react at the end of the match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka gets medical assistance during the match against Romania's Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Romania's Sorana Cirstea reacts after winning the match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka reacts during the match against Romania's Sorana Cirstea at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Saturday, May 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It took the Las Vegas Raiders an entire season to accumulate three victories in 2025.
Rookie coach Klint Kubiak and new quarterback Kirk Cousins have helped the Silver and Black match that total by Week 3 of 2026.
Cousins passed for 248 yards and three touchdowns, and the Raiders overcame an 11-point second-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Saints 35-27 on Sunday and remain unbeaten.
The 38-year-old Cousins “has the experience, he has the maturity and he’s making plays,” said the 39-year-old Kubiak, who parlayed his one-year stint as offensive coordinator of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks into his first head coaching job.
The game shifted on a play that will be seen as controversial and unjust by some — and certainly by Saints fans.
The series that led to the Raiders' go-ahead score began when Las Vegas defensive end Malcolm Koonce sacked Tyler Shough as the Saints QB started his throwing motion.
The ball went backward and was ruled a fumble that was recovered by the Raiders (3-0) — a different ruling than was made after a similar play involving the Saints (1-2) in Week 1 at Detroit. On that play, an apparent New Orleans strip-sack of the Lions' Jared Goff was ruled incomplete on video review after the Saints thought they had recovered a fumble for a touchdown.
Likewise, Shough said, “I thought my arm was going forward.”
“I’m not exactly sure on the rule,” he added. “It doesn’t really matter. I’ve got to get it out sooner, regardless.”
Boos rained down from Superdome stands, and Saints coach Kellen Moore gestured incredulously with his arms out to his side and palms up when officials, following a video review, upheld the call of a fumble.
“I just assumed it was a strip-sack,” Koonce said. “We just got a little bit of momentum and started balling.”
Six plays later, Cousins connected with Cody White for a 4-yard touchdown to make it 28-27.
“Momentum swung against us early in the third quarter, but the defense just kept showing up for us, creating turnovers and giving us short fields,” Cousins said. “We were able to capitalize on them.”
Cousins gave Las Vegas an eight-point lead with a 4-yard TD pass to Brock Bowers. The Saints got the ball twice more with a chance to tie it, but one drive stalled on Shough's fourth-down fumble and another on Juwan Johnson's fumble with 1:02 left.
“Turnovers in the fourth quarter got us and we weren’t able to overcome those. Those guys finished better than us,” Moore said. “We had our opportunities and we didn’t get it done.”
Shough passed for 255 yards and a career-high four touchdowns — including two to Johnson. Shough's other scoring passes went to Noah Fant from short range. But the second-year QB also turned the ball over three times, twice on fumbles and on an interception by cornerback Hezekiah Masses that set up the Raiders' final scoring drive.
Mike Washington ignited the Raiders’ comeback with a tackle-breaking 36-yard scoring run that cut New Orleans’ lead to 27-22 in the third quarter. Matt Gay kicked three field goals for Las Vegas, which also failed on a pair of 2-point conversions in the second half.
New Orleans’ Chris Olave caught nine passes for 107 yards, his second 100-yard game this season.
Bowers, making his season debut after coming back from a knee injury during training camp, caught 10 passes for 116 yards and his short TD.
“To come off an injury and play the way he did was very impressive,” Kubiak said. “We needed it. We’re not surprised.”
Raiders: WR Jack Bech left the game with a fractured forearm. Guard Jackson Powers-Johnson left with a groin injury.
Saints: LB Pete Werner left in the first half with a neck and shoulder stinger. RB Travis Etienne left with an apparent hamstring pull. Edge rusher Anfernee Jennings left with a knee injury.
Raiders: Host Kansas City next Sunday.
Saints: Host Atlanta on Monday, Oct. 5.
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New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore talks to an official after a penalty was issued to his team during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) throws a pass under pressure from Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV (99) and defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) celebrates the team's win in an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass under pressure from New Orleans Saints safety Jonas Sanker (7) during the first half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
