Rafa is my idol, says grand slam-seeking Safina

World number one Dinara Safina is using men's counterpart and claycourt maestro Rafael Nadal as her inspiration as she bids for a first grand slam title at the French Open starting later this month.

The Russian won a second successive claycourt title in Madrid on Sunday when she overpowered Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki and is hoping to go one better than last year at Roland Garros when she lost in the final to Ana Ivanovic.

World number one Nadal has won four straight French Open crowns.

"At the moment I can say that my idol is Nadal and I am trying to play like him," the 23-year-old, younger sister of former men's number one Marat Safin, told a news conference.

"The truth is I respect him a great deal and I am trying to be at his level."

Safina took over the top spot from Serena Williams last month and said her recent success should silence critics who have said she does not deserve to be number one without a grand slam to her name.

Williams, who has won 10 grand slam singles titles, said earlier this month that she still rated herself as the world's best player.

"It was my dream from the beginning, I always believed that I could get it and I was ready for it," Safina said.