France's Russian-born Tatiana Golovin left the Fed Cup final hanging in the balance as she beat Russia's US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-1 to level the tie at 2-2 and take it to the final doubles match.
Earlier the hosts had taken a 2-1 lead after French Open champion Anastasia Myskina beat Nathalie Dechy 6-3, 6-4.
Myskina, the world ranked number three, had set out her stall with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) victory over Golovin on Saturday and had little trouble in trying to impose her game on Dechy, who is France's captain in the absence of the injured Amelie Mauresmo.
Golovin's victory rounded off a miserable final for Kuznetsova who went down to Dechy 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 8-6 in her first rubber.
The title will be decided by the doubles which pits France's Emilie Loit and Marion Bartoli against Elena Likhovtseva and Vera Zvonareva of Russia.
