Seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams crashed to her earliest French Open defeat in 12 years on Sunday when she lost 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 to Poland’s Urszula Radwanska.

The 32-year-old Williams, giving away 10 years to her opponent, had only once suffered a first-round exit at Roland Garros, back in 2001 when she was defeated by Barbara Schett.

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 back from 0-4 down to reel off seven points in succession.

But the effort was too much for the veteran as Radwanska, the younger sister of world No.4 Agnieszka, took the tie on a second match point to make the last 64 for the second year in succession.

She will face German qualifier Dinah Pfizenmaier.