The Canadian team, the lowest-ranked of the 12 nations competing at the finals, beat the 2019 winners and top seeds 2-1 in Group A at the O2 Arena.

Rebecca Marino and Gabriela Dabrowski won the decisive doubles rubber 6-3, 7-6 against Alize Cornet and Clara Burel after the two sides had shared the singles matches.

World number 353 Francoise Abanda got outsiders Canada off to the perfect start with a battling 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory over world number 105 Fiona Ferro.

Abanda, who has only played 11 singles matches in 18 months, trailed by a set and 0-2 before fighting back to put the first Canadian point on the board.

France levelled proceedings thanks to Cornet's 6-4, 7-5 win against Marino, leaving the doubles rubber to decide the fate of the opening match of the tournament.

"I haven't played consistently many tournaments for many reasons but for me to be here is perfect - I could play matches, win or lose, it is beneficial for me," said Abanda.

"I am one of the lowest-ranked here so I really have no pressure.

"My opponent today was ranked way higher than me.

"It is a good start, and hopefully I can keep going."

In Group B, Belgium also needed the doubles rubber to get past Belarus 2-1, with Vera Lapko and Aliaksandra Sasnovich beating Elise Mertens and Kirsten Flipkens 6-4, 6-3 in the decisive match of the contest.

In Group D, Czech Republic beat Germany 2-1, with Lucie Hradecka and Katerina Siniakova winning the decisive doubles rubber after beating Anna-Lena Friedsam and Jule Niemeier 6-4, 6-7, 10-8.

The day's Group C match between Spain and Slovakia also went to a decisive doubles rubber, with Sara Sorribes Tormo and Carla Suarez-Navarro securing the win for Spain by beating Viktoria Kuzmova and Tereza Mihalikova 4-6, 6-2, 10-7.

The new-look Finals had been due to take place in Budapest before being moved to Prague because of COVID-19.