After Amelie Mauresmo overwhelmed Vera Zvonareva 6-2, 6-2 to give France an early lead, Myskina edged Mary Pierce 4-6, 7-6, 7-5 in the second rubber to square the tie at 1-1.

"I can't be happy with the 1-1 score because we were just a point from going 2-0 up," France captain Guy Forget said. "But I'm very pleased with the performances of both Mary and Amelie as they gave their best effort tonight."

Pierce was serving for the match at 5-4 in the second set, but the Russian fought her way back to save a match point before running away with the tiebreak 7-2.

The momentum shifted back and forth in the deciding set before Myskina finally prevailed in a nail-biting 2-1/2-hour encounter, bringing the 6,000-strong home crowd, including former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, to their feet.

"My hands are still shaking from all the intensity out there," Myskina said.

"She really played a great match. She was hitting everything in the first set, but then I was able to calm down and raise my game a notch as well."

Earlier, in a carbon-copy two-set match, Mauresmo claimed the last four games from 2-2 in each set to clinch victory in 60 minutes.

"I was very consistent from the beginning to the end," the world number four said. "I also didn't let her do what she likes best ... to dictate the points. I think this was one of my best matches in the entire season."

Zvonareva, playing only her second Fed Cup match, said she faced an uphill battle from the start.

"She didn't give me any chance to get into the match," said the 19-year-old Russian. "She was serving very well and also put a lot of pressure on my serves."

WINNING UNGLY

Meanwhile, Lisa Raymond trounced Els Callens 6-2, 6-1 and Meghann Shaughnessy overcame tiring Kirsten Flipkens 6-7, 7-6, 9-7 to put the Americans in command.

U.S. captain Billie Jean King was relieved to see her team build a 2-0 lead before the reverse singles and doubles rubbers.

"Lisa just played a great match," King said. "She has played in eight Fed Cup ties, but this was her first singles match and it is the best match I have seen her play in a long, long time."

"Meghann also gave a great effort and sometimes you have to win ugly."

Flipkens, playing in her first Fed Cup match as Belgium took on the Americans without world numbers one and two Justine Henin-Hardenne and Kim Clijsters, was just two points away from victory as she served for the match at 5-4 in the deciding set.

But Shaughnessy battled back to break her 17-year-old opponent in the 16th game, clinching victory on her first opportunity after three hours and 12 minutes.

"I was struggling through the whole match, just couldn't find my rhythm," said Shaughnessy, who saved a match point with a powerful ace in the second-set tie-breaker.

"But in the end I think it came down to just one thing -- whoever wanted it more."

Flipkens, in tears as she walked toward her bench after the match, said it was difficult to come to terms after losing such a close contest.

"It's not easy to forget such a match, I'm still thinking about it," the Wimbledon and U.S. Open junior champion said.

"It was my first Fed Cup match and I think I played pretty good, but it was just one break in the end."