Marbella, Spain  - Dinara Safina came third time lucky to lift the WTA top ranking as current holder Serena Williams crashed to a defeat in the first round of an event in Spain on Wednesday.

The Russian has failed for the last two events to take over the summit spot from the American, beaten by Czech number 95 Klara Zakopalova 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 at the new Andalucia Tennis Experience event.

Zurich - Spain has built up a record lead atop the world football rankings, issued on Wednesday by the governing body FIFA, courtesy of its latest two victories.

The Euro 2008 champions defeated Turkey twice in World Cup qualifiers, 1-0 on March 28 and 2-1 on April 1, to stretch their unbeaten run to 31 games and lead the FIFA list with 1,729 points.

FIFA said that the 367-point advantage over second-placed Germany (1,362) is the biggest lead since the rankings which take into account national team games were introduced in 1993.

Villarreal, Spain  - Arsenal are well placed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, after battling out a valuable 1-1 draw away to old enemies Villarreal on Tuesday.

Arsenal edged Villarreal out of the 2006 final and are poised to eliminate the Spaniards again, after a superb strike from Emmanuel Adebayor cancelled out an early goal from Marcos Senna.

Villarreal went into the quarter-final first leg without broken leg victim Santi Cazorla. Arsenal, in contrast, had key men Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas fit again.

Madrid - Struggling Spanish Liga club Betis announced on Tuesday evening that striker Sergio Garcia will be out of action for around a month.

Garcia suffered a bizarre injury in Saturday's heart-stopping 3-3 draw at home to Numancia, twisting the ligaments in his right knee whilst wildly celebrating a goal.

Garcia - who was a reserve for Spain at Euro 2008 - will be out of action until early May.

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero announced a sweeping cabinet reshuffle and restructuring Tuesday in response to the country's deepening recession.

Public Administrations Minister Elena Salgado was appointed economy minister in replacement of Pedro Solbes, who had been accused of downplaying and being slow in responding to the crisis.

Salgado was also made second vice-premier after Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, who retained her post.

Santander, Spain  - A court in the northern Spanish city of Santander has ordered the release of suspected swindler Jose Perez Diaz, dubbed the Spanish Madoff, who was captured in Mexico after 18 years on the run, the court announced Tuesday.

The charges against Perez Diaz, known as Pepe el del Popular, 57, had come under the statute of limitations, the court said.

Perez Diaz was one of Spain's most wanted fugitives, with media referring to him as an "early Madoff" - after confessed US financial fraudster Bernard Madoff.