France and Serbia are locked at 1-1 in the Davis Cup final after Friday's singles rubbers saw wins for Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils.
Monfils passed Tipsarevic in straight sets in the opening match, before Djokovic steadied the Serbian ship much to the pleasure of the Belgrade fans, to leave the tie delicately poised heading into the all-important doubles match on Saturday.
Monfils ensured France got off to a flying start when he trounced Janko Tipsarevic in the opening set 6-1.
The world No.49, however, put up more of a fight in the second, taking it to a tiebreaker, only to see Monfils snatch it 7-4.
Then the Frenchman routed the local hope 6-0 in the third set to give the visitors the ideal start.
World No.3 Djokovic fought back admirably in the second rubber, beating Gilles Simon 6-3 6-1 7-5 in a match lasting more than two hours.
Djokovic did not have it all his own way as he tried to serve out the match in the 10th game of the third set, wasting two match points before handing Simon the break back with a wide forehand.
Before the Frenchman's first service break, Simon had won just nine points on the Djokovic serve.
But Djokovic made amends the very next game, breaking Simon's serve once more after some dogged resistance from the world number 42.
The local favourite made no mistake the second time around as he served for the match, pumping his fist to his heart when he brought up two match points.
He secured the win when Simon hit a backhand long and wide to square the final heading into Saturday's doubles.