Both teams headed into the encounter knowing that a victory would take them through to the last four of the tournament, with the two nations having beaten the United States’ 3-0 earlier in the group stage.

Nicolas Peifer got the French team off to an ideal start by securing a 6-1, 6-1 victory against Rick Molier, which gave Stephane Houdet the chance to seal his nations’ progression.

The world number one cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Maikel Scheffers to confirm the semi-final spot, before Peifer and Frederic Cattaneo won their doubles tie against Molier and Carlos Anker by a 6-1, 6-2 scoreline.

France will now meet an Australian team, who secured back-to-back 2-1 victories over Spain and South Korea to win Pool D of the competition.

Defending champions Britain have also reached the semi-finals, after triumphing 2-1 in a winner-takes-all clash with Argentina in Pool D.

Marc McCarroll and Alfie Hewett won their singles ties against Argentina’s Agustin Ledesma and Gustavo Fernandez respectively to give the British team the crucial win.

They will continued their title defence against the host nation, with Japan having thrashed Belgium 3-0 in their final Pool B tie.

Having won the European Qualification tournament, Russia’s women have now progressed to the semi-finals of the World Group after sealing a 3-0 win over Chile to emerge as winners of Pool D.

Their challenge will now be threatened by the Netherlands, who underlined their status as top seeds by claiming 3-0 wins in Pool A against both France and Colombia.

Japan and China have ensured that an Asian team will compete in the final, with the two due to clash tomorrow having emerged unbeaten from Pool B and C respectively.

The host nation will also be represented in the quad semi-finals, but will begin as underdogs when they meet top seeded Britain.

Third seeds Israel will face the challenge of Australia in the second semi-final.