NO matter how hard she tries, Dinara Safina just can't escape big brother Marat's giant shadow.

But she was happy to summon up his crowd-pleasing spirit in her epic French Open triumph over world No.1 Maria Sharapova.

Safina battled back from a set and 2-5 down, as well as saving a match point, to send her fellow Russian, the top seed, crashing out of Roland Garros in a stunning 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 fourth round win.

As her comeback gained momentum, a packed Suzanne Lenglen court responded, getting behind the gutsy 13th seed and slowly turning against the golden girl of the sport.

"In this case, I should say thanks to my brother because I know the French people really love him. So I guess I get half of the support from his part," said Safina.

Marat Safin, the former world No.1, and winner of a US Open and Australian Open title, is six years his sister's senior but as her career flourishes, his seems to be in terminal decline.

His last title was in Melbourne, three and half long years ago.

Not that it stopped him from being first on the phone on Monday after his little sister's three-hour marathon.

"He sent a text. It said: 'Well done. Good play'."

Now Safina hopes that her brother's former golden touch will rub off on her as she stands just three wins away from a first Grand Slam title.

"I think it's going to be a dream of all our family," said the 22-year-old.

"Once we do this we can put really the racquet on the wall and say we did everything we could. But to get to his level, I still have to work a little bit harder."

Next in line for Safina is compatriot, and Fed Cup teammate, Elena Dementieva in Wednesday's quarter-finals.

Safina beat Dementieva in the final of the lucrative Berlin claycourt tournament in May after having defeated former world number one Justine Henin and Serena Williams along the way.

Dementieva, the 2004 runner-up at Roland Garros, reached the last eight with a three-set victory over yet another Russian, Vera Zvonareva.

At 26, Dementieva is four years older than Safina, but she recalls her compatriot's infectious enthusiasm when they were childhood friends in Moscow.

"When I started she was playing with the balls but without racquets. Dinara was always working so hard," said Dementieva.

"It was like she was always trying to show everyone that she can play as good as Marat. I like her for that. She's a hard worker. Maybe she doesn't have so much talent as Marat, but she's really improved a lot."

Courtesy: AFP