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Australian veteran Samantha Stosur isn't spooked by the likelihood her ranking will drop outside 100 following a rare early exit from the French Open.

Samantha Stosur won't be packing it in despite a French Open loss that will see her drop outside the world's top 100.

The Australian veteran looked set to make her 11th-straight Roland Garros third round appearance after a fast start against Ekaterina Alexandrova on Thursday.

But the big-hitting Russian slowly found her range, defying a valiant Stosur 3-6 6-1 6-4.

It ended a streak on the Paris clay only matched by Maria Sharapova among active players and means a forecast drop of 12 places to world No.108 for the former No.4.

That ranking would leave her right on the cusp of automatic qualification for grand slams, although Stosur has already earned a spot in the Wimbledon main draw in July.

Far from considering retirement, the 35-year-old - a top-100 regular since 2004 - is determined to find a way back into double figures.

"I fell out of the 100 for a week last year, then got myself back in and it wasn't a problem," she said.

"I realise in that position it's not where you want to play, it's where you can play.

"So I'll have to look at the options ... play what I need to but hopefully I can get myself back in there with a few wins."

Stosur was impressive in defeat, making the Russian earn the victory with brave tennis until the end.

"I hit the ball very well, hung in there and did everything I could," she said.

"You get through that and you're in the third round of a slam and everything feels better again.

"I don't feel like I'm that far away, but you've still got to do it."