Mary Pierce outlasted Meghann Shaughnessy 6-3, 3-6, 8-6 in a baseline battle lasting more than two hours to give France a commanding 2-0 lead over the United States in the Fed Cup final on Saturday.
A visibly tired Pierce failed to convert three match points in the 12th game of the deciding set, but the former French and Australian Open champion was finally able to close out the match on her fourth attempt two games later.
Earlier, Amelie Mauresmo overpowered Lisa Raymond 6-4, 6-3 in the opening singles to put the French ahead.
After three consecutive breaks of serve at the start of the match, the 24-year-old Frenchwoman held to take a 3-1 lead.
She then comfortably held her next three service games to clinch the first set with a powerful ace after 34 minutes.
But Raymond, more renowned for her doubles prowess, fought back in the second set.
After wasting three break points in the fourth game, she finally broke her opponent on her fourth opportunity to go up 3-1 when Mauresmo's forehand sailed long.
But the world number four broke back before winning the next four games to secure a comfortable victory.
"I served pretty good, hit both my first and second serves well and didn't give her many chances," said Mauresmo, who fired 10 aces past the American.
"She also served well, but still I was able to take my chances. I didn't play a great match, but I won a point for France and that is the most important thing."
Raymond, who has now lost all five of her matches against the Frenchwoman, acknowledged Mauresmo's superiority.
"I was playing a different calibre opponent today," said the 30-year-old, who won both of her singles matches before teaming up with Martina Navratilova in doubles to lead the U.S. to a 4-1 semi-final win over Belgium two days ago.
"You have to give her credit though, she served well when she needed to. I had a couple of chances but just couldn't take them."
"I think the key point was when she broke back in the fifth game of the second set," Raymond said. "It definitely swang the momentum back in her favour."
The reverse singles and doubles take place on Sunday.
The Americans, missing several of their top players, hope to add to their record of 17 Fed Cup titles, while the French, winners in 1997, are aiming for their second.