The defending champions fell behind when French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza beat Barbora Strýcová 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 to briefly silence the home crowd.

Plíšková then restored parity for the Czech team, without star player Petra Kvitová, who is recovering from injuries sustained in a knife attack at her home, as she beat Arruabarrena 6-4, 7-5.

The two results leave the tie tentatively poised going into tomorrow's second and final day.

Three of the four contests to be held today finished all square at one apiece, with the United States due to take on Germany at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Maui in Hawaii later on this evening.

Switzerland went in front during their tie with France at the Palexpo in Geneva when Timea Bacsinszky ground out a battling 7-5, 6-4 victory over Alize Cornet.

The hosts were unable to take a 2-0 lead, which would have given them one foot in the semi-finals, as Kristina Mladenovic proved too strong for Belinda Bencic in the second singles rubber, emerging with a 6-3, 6-4 success.

Kiki Bertens of The Netherlands had to save match point to keep her team in their tie against Belarus as she beat Aryna Sabenka at the Chizhovka-Arena in Minsk.

Bertens dropped the opening set and was on the verge of defeat before she launched a stirring comeback and claimed a 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 win.

Belarus had won the first singles rubber as Aliaksandra Sasnovich also needed three sets to get past Michaella Krajicek 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

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