Shahar Peer is looking to dig herself out of the biggest crisis of her career and get back on track in the French Open, which starts on Monday.

The clay at Roland Garros in Paris is usually Peer’s favourite surface but her preparations for the second grand slam of the year have gone awry after a shoulder injury forced her to withdraw from last week’s Berlin Open and this week’s Strasbourg tournament.

After she recommenced training in Israel this week, Peer told our reporter that her shoulder was “feeling better” and insisted that her career is not in crisis, even though, currently ranked 18, she is consistently failing to maintain her record of beating players ranked above her over the past year.

She has suffered a string of humiliating defeats in recent weeks to players ranked nearly 100 places below her. “I know I am not playing my best tennis but that is part of every athlete’s career,” she said. “I’m taking the positives out of every situation and working hard. I am sure I will return to form soon.”

The 21-year-old sidestepped questions about what would be deemed a successful tournament in Paris where she has reached the last 16 in each of the past two years. “I am not thinking so far ahead,” she insisted.

Tzipi Obziler, Dudi Sela, along with doubles specialists Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich are also involved.