Russia and the Czech Republic are locked together at 1-1 after day one of the Fed Cup final in Prague following victories for Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova.
The Czechs are the defending champions and claimed an early advantage when Kvitova recovered from a sluggish start to defeat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6 6-1 6-1.
However, the presence of world No 4 Sharapova means the Russians will feel they have every chance and she beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-4 to level the tie.
Pavlyuchenkova comfortably took the opening set of the final for Russia but the pivotal moment of the opening match came in the second game of set two when Kvitova broke for the first time, converting her 10th break point opportunity.
Suitably emboldened, Kvitova began to find her range with her powerful ground strokes at that point and broke again for 4-0 when Pavlyuchenkova double faulted.
Having closed out the set, the Czech No 1 then raced away with the decider, converting her first match point when Pavlyuchenkova again double-faulted.
"I was nervous," said Kvitova. "It was difficult. I was trying to hold my serve in the second set and then I had an opportunity to break her. I think that game was really key for the second set and maybe for the match."
"Overall, I think I wasn't playing bad," said Pavlyuchenkova. "She just found her game.
"She started to hit crazy strokes and then I was under pressure."
Sharapova was left with the task of earning a first point for the visitors and she was pegged back by Pliskova after breaking to lead 4-2 in set one.
However, the Russian immediately broke again and she then held serve to take the set, clinching it with a forehand winner.
Pliskova's serve was not working as effectively as usual but she showed plenty of fight and moved into a 2-0 lead in set two.
However, Sharapova reeled off the next three games and, then, in the decisive phase of the match, she managed to hold for a 5-3 lead despite falling 0-40 down.
The gutsy Pliskova saved a pair of match points in the next game but Sharapova made no mistake when she served for victory, setting up match point with her 28th winner before Pliskova went long with an attempted pass.
Sharapova said: "I didn't serve my best, something I have to improve for tomorrow, but overall I am very happy that I could win."
A disappointed Pliskova reflected: "I had my chances, I should have played better."
The final began amidst increased security measures following the terrorist attacks in Paris on Friday night.
The players and 13,000 spectators at Prague's O2 Arena observed a minute of silence during the opening ceremony for the victims of the deadly attacks.
Russia are bidding to win the Cup for the first time since 2008 while the Czechs are seeking a fourth title in five years.
With the match nicely poised, Sunday's action will begin with the enticing prospect of a Kvitova-Sharapova showdown, followed by Pliskova- Pavlyuchenkova and a potentially decisive doubles clash.