Russia's [Images] Anastasia Myskina [Images] will attempt to defend her French Open title despite a nagging shoulder injury, her coach said on Tuesday.

"We are practising again and we are planning on playing Paris. We will arrive on Thursday," Myskina's coach, Jens Gerlach said.

After being stunned by German wild card Julia Schruff in Berlin, Myskina pulled out of last week's Italian Open and flew home to Moscow [Images] to receive treatment.

At the time, she was unsure whether she would be able to play the French Open, which runs from May 23 to June 5.

Myskina has been unable to practise her serve because of her shoulder injury.

"I'm not going to find any excuses for why I'm losing right now," Myskina said in Berlin. "I'm not losing because of my serve I'm losing because I'm not showing my best tennis from the baseline."

FRENCH WINNER

Myskina became the first Russian woman to win a Grand Slam singles title when she beat Elena Dementieva in the 2004 French Open final.

She finished last year ranked a career high number three in the world and stated her intention of taking over the number one ranking. But after being stunned by Nathalie Dechy at the 2005 Australian Open [Images], her game has suffered.

Myskina has only reached one semi-final this year, in Antwerp.

"I have to learn to win the important points again, " Myskina said.

Dementieva added that her friend is also having "personal problems" but Myskina declined to discuss them or whether they are affecting her play.

"She's not the type of person who makes excuses for anything," Gerlach said, adding that even if Myskina's shoulder is healthy in Paris she will have to rediscover her inner fire.

"She's been a champion and knows how to dig deep like a champion," he said.

"If she gets to Paris and wins a couple of good matches, maybe she'll feel the magic of Roland Garros again."

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