Safina does not always listen to big brother Marat

The 23-year-old Russian, who will start the French Open as the hot favorite, still cries when she watches videos of Marat Safin's first grand slam triumph at the 2000 U.S. Open.

"There were many good (bits of advice). Most of the things he is telling me are to enjoy tennis. You just have to enjoy every moment," Safina told reporters Friday.

Safina, who lost to Serb Ana Ivanovic in last year's final, has arrived in Paris with a 14-1 record on clay after winning the Rome and Madrid titles.

She did not achieve this listening to her 29-year-old brother, who will retire at the end of the year.

"He can maybe practice one and a half hours a day and for him it's enough," Safina said.

"I'm a little bit more stubborn. I need to have maybe four hours on the court. And (before) he was like, 'no, just practice half an hour and it's fine for you'," she said with a smile. "Now he respects me much more."

Safina will start her French Open campaign against Briton Anne Keothavong.

"If I continue playing like I've been playing for the past three weeks, I have a very good chance (of winning the tournament)," she said.

"I'm really looking forward to it."