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Safin says sister poised for Grand Slam breakthrough

PERTH, Australia (AFP) - Russian former world number one Marat Safin believes little sister Dinara Safina is poised for a breakthrough Grand Slam win at the upcoming Australian Open.

The fiery siblings teamed up on the court for the first time at the mixed teams Hopman Cup here this week, reaching the final only to lose to Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova and Dominik Hrbaty.

Despite her surprise loss to Cibulkova on Friday, Safin, who won the Australian Open title in 2005, said his sister was ready to lift the women's title and also become world number one.

"I think she is ready," he said. "She had a tough match, Cibulkova played incredible tennis.

"It is going to be a different story in Australian Open. There are going to be a lot of nerves, she's not defending anything because she lost first round last year, but she has a huge chance.

"She has a big chance to get closer to number one and I think she is looking for this and she is ready to be there."

Safina climbed to third in the world rankings at the end of 2008 and flew in to Perth looking in the best physical shape of her career.

She also arrived earlier than most of her Hopman Cup rivals to give herself the best possible preparation for the Australian Open, starting on January 19 in Melbourne, after her first-round exit last year.

The 22-year-old impressed in three successive singles wins over top-15 duo Alize Cornet and Flavia Pennetta, and Taiwan's talented Hsieh Su-Wei, during the group phase.

Although her form wavered at times Safina's best tennis, usually when matches were in the balance, was reminiscent of the imperious play of her charismatic brother.

Meanwhile Safin, who arrived with two black eyes from a fist fight in Moscow, was also confident about his final season before retirement after showing great form in his wins against Simone Bolelli and Lu Yen-Hsun.

"I am happy with how I am playing and I ready to go to Melbourne," said the world number 29.

"I am quite confident, the way I am playing after two months without touching a racquet, it is not bad tennis I am showing."

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