Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams insisted on Monday that retirement is not on her agenda despite suffering her earliest French Open exit in 12 years.

The 32-year-old American slumped to a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (7), 6-4 loss to Poland's Urszula Radwanska, 10 years her junior, in the first round on Sunday, her worst result since losing to Barbara Schett at the same stage in 2001.

Troubled by a back injury in recent weeks, the 30th-seeded American had mounted a stirring comeback in the second set tiebreak, clawing her way from 4-0 down to reel off seven points in succession.