The other semi-final between the United States and the Czech Republic at the Saddlebrook Resort in Florida also ended all-square.

he host nation took the lead thanks to Belarusian number one Aliaksandra Sasnovich's victory in three sets over Viktorija Golubic in a match which lasted two hours and 48 minutes.

Sasnovich harnessed the energy of the home crowd on her way to recording a gruelling 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 win to give her team the best possible start.

Switzerland's number one Timea Bacsinszky, who won a silver medal in the doubles at last year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, then responded with straight-sets triumph against Aryna Sabalenka.

Sabalenka started the better of the two players but was made to pay for not taking full advantage as she dropped the opening set.

Bacsinszky then had all of the momentum and was able to close out a 6-4, 7-5 win to ensure the tie goes into its second day with the scores level.

"She’s really a great player and it was a tough battle for me,” said the Swiss. 

“She’s going to rise pretty quickly probably because she not only has great tennis but I feel like she has a great spirit too.

“She had some lucky shots at the net or had some. 

"Some other 18-year-old girls would have said, ‘Oh, how much luck do you have or something’, but I was smiling, she was smiling. 

"In the end we were entertaining people, we’re having fun. For myself, I know that if I’m like that I’m in the zone where I can play my best tennis.”

In the World Group play-offs, France have a 2-0 advantage over Spain having won both singles matches at the Halle André Vacheresse in Roanne.

Germany are in a similarly commanding position as they lead Ukraine 2-0 in their clash at the Porsche Arena in Stuttgart.

The matches between Russia and Belgium at the Small Sports Arena in Moscow and Slovakia and the Netherlands at the AEGON Arena in Bratislava both ended 1-1 after the first day.