Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova put the Czech Republic on the verge of the Fed Cup final with singles victories in their semi-final with France.
Safarova gave the defending champions an excellent start to the clash in Ostrava as she came from a set down to beat Caroline Garcia 4-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-1.
The world number 13 sent down 10 aces in the match and progressed despite Garcia hitting more winners, Safarova making hers count to put her side 1-0 ahead.
Kvitova doubled their lead in the second rubber with a comprehensive 6-3 6-4 win over Kristina Mladenovic, leaving the Czech Republic needing one point from Sunday's three matches to reach their fourth final in five years.
Russia are on the brink of meeting them in the final after they also won both matches against Germany in Sochi.
Svetlana Kuznetsova put Russia in the driving seat with a 6-4 6-4 win over Julia Goerges before Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova then came from a set down to beat Sabine Lisicki 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.
Meanwhile in the play-offs, there was no fairytale return for Martina Hingis as she lost her singles match against Agnieszka Radwanska, but Switzerland go into Sunday level at 1-1 after Timea Bacsinszky beat Urszula Radwanska.
Serena Williams' victory over Camila Giorgi was not enough to give the United States an advantage against Italy, Sara Errani drawing the hosts level in Brindisi with a 6-1 6-2 win over Lauren Davis – in for Venus Williams.
Netherlands' clash with Australia in 's-Hertogenbosch also sits evenly poised at 1-1.
Canada and Romania are locked at 1-1 after Eugenie Bouchard's poor form continued.
The 18-year-old Francoise Abanda had stunned Irina-Camelia Begu 4-6 7-5 6-4 in Montreal, and Bouchard was favoured to put Canada 2-0 up.
But the world number seven went down to Alexandra Dulgheru 6-4 6-4 for what was her fourth straight loss.
Dulgheru then mocked Bouchard, who had refused a handshake in the lead-up, by playfully doing the same with her team.