Dinara Safina may be No1 in the rankings but the absence of a grand slam title has led to question marks about her exalted status.

The Russian has won two tournaments this season in Rome and Madrid but critics point to her record of three defeats in as many grand slam finals.

They argue that how can a player without one of the four major titles be considered better than defending champion Venus Williams, or her sister Serena who crushed Safina 6-0 6-3 to take the Australian Open title in January?

Safina insisted: "I took only the positive from Sydney. I reached the final, I played the final. I know there is good in my game.

"It was just disappointing that I didn't do anything in that final. I didn't play my game. I didn't bring anything out."

It wasn't the first time that's happened, nor the last. The previous summer Safina bowed to Ana Ivanovic at the climax to the French Open, and back at Roland Garros earlier this month she lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova in a one-sided final.

Those who have watched the 23-year-old's unconvincing progress to today's fourth-round clash with 2006 Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo will think it unlikely she will break that grand slam duck here so the pressure is on to get the job done.

And that pressure may be getting to her as she admitted it was "annoying" that she is known more for her failings in Grand Slam finals than for creating history in the rankings - Safina and brother Marit are the first siblings to have made No1 in the women's and the men's list.

"I'm consistently doing my results," said Safina. "I'm sure one day I will get the grand slam and nobody can talk any more that I'm No1 without one.

"My dream, as a kid, was to become No1. And now my other big dream is to hold a trophy from a Grand Slam. I know I have the potential.

"I know I have everything to get it. I just need to put this 'everything' together in the last match of the tournament."

Safina, struggling last week with an inconsistent serve and painful tendinitis of her knees, has seen her prospects of a big breakthrough at Wimbledon receive a huge boost with the exits from her half of the draw of top-six seeds Kuznetsova and Jelena Jankovic.

However, 17th seed Mauresmo has her sights set on a second title and Safina, playing on Centre Court for the first time this fortnight, acknowledged: "This year she is playing very well. She's back in her best shape and she likes playing on grass. I mean, she has won Wimbledon already.

"It is not going to be easy, let's see who is stronger on the day."

Mauresmo fancies her chances, even though the Swiss-based Frenchwoman is just seven days away from her 30th birthday.

"It gets tougher and tougher as the tournament goes on," she said. "And I'm expecting another tough one against Safina. But I'm enjoying myself far more than I've done in the last two years and I'm hoping my experience will count."

Fifth seed Kuznetsova crashed out on her 24th birthday to German teenager Sabine Lisicki who is now facing ninth seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark.

Lisicki, who needed five match points before sealing the biggest win of her career, said: "I just kept fighting.

"It's a huge win as, before Wimbledon, I hadn't won a match on grass. I can't believe that I'm now in the fourth round."