Four points, one escape: Samsonova ousts Fruhvirtova 2-6, 6-3, 3-6 in Beijing

Four points. That was the entire margin — 103 points to 99 — and it carried Liudmila Samsonova through the Beijing Round of 64 instead of Linda Fruhvirtova. Fruhvirtova won more return points, 51 to 41, and still left the court on the wrong end of 2-6, 6-3, 3-6.

Samsonova struck first. The opening set went 6-2 on two breaks from two chances, with Fruhvirtova converting none of her four looks and winning just 11 service points to Samsonova's 20. The return battle was dead even at 11 points apiece and the double-fault count level at two — everything else tilted one way.

Fruhvirtova hit back in the second, 6-3, built on a 23-13 edge in service points won. She broke twice from six chances, saved three of four break points, and managed it while serving six double faults — her messiest set with the ball in hand was also her best.

The decider flipped on serve, not return. Fruhvirtova out-returned Samsonova 25-13 in the third set yet won only 14 service points to 29. Samsonova broke twice, saved three of the four break points against her, and closed it 6-3.

Samsonova's serve was the spine of the win. She faced 14 break points over three sets and saved 11, a 78% success rate against Fruhvirtova's 44%. First-serve points fell 51-38 her way, the aces finished level at one each, and the only column running against her was the return count — 41 points to Fruhvirtova's 51.

Winning the return war usually wins the match. Samsonova spent the afternoon proving the exception, holding firm 11 times under break-point fire and banking the four points that separated 103 from 99.