Reigning Wimbledon champions Matt Ebden and Max Purcell completed the fightback in the doubles after Alex de Minaur kept the green-and-gold in the tie with a fighting victory over Benjamin Bonzi.
The two victories cancelled out Jason Kubler’s defeat against veteran Richard Gasquet to leave the Lleyton Hewitt-led Australia almost assured of a top two finish to qualify for the Davis Cup quarter-finals, with a self-capitulation against Germany and results going against them the only way of missing out.
MORE: Australia makes flawless start in Davis Cup Finals as debutant Jason Kubler pulls off impressive comeback | Why is Nick Kyrgios not playing in the Davis Cup for Australia?
“I’m really proud of the team,” Australia Davis Cup captain Hewitt said.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be easy.
“Kubler left it all out there, then Alex never gave up and was able to find a way in the end, digging deep to give our doubles the opportunity to win it for us.”
Making his Davis Cup debut this week, Kubler was defeated in straight sets by Gasquet 6-2 6-4, leaving Australia with a mountain to climb to win the tie.
De Minaur looked in trouble against Bonzi, who unsettled Nick Kyrgios in the US Open earlier this month, as he got steamrolled in the second set after winning the first.
But the Australian No.2 steadied the ship in the third set to level the tie with a 6-3 1-6 6-4 win against the unpredictable Frenchman.
It all came down the doubles match, with Ebden and Purcell continuing their excellent 2022 by dismissing Arthur Rinderknech and Nicolas Mahut 6-4 6-4.
Victory against France backed up Australia’s 3-0 triumph over Belgium on Wednesday meaning Hewitt’s team has won five of their individual six matches across the two ties.
To miss a top-two spot and fall short of qualifying for the Davis Cup quarter-finals, Australia would have to lose to Germany, while Belgium would need at least need consecutive victories over the Germans and France.
The knockout stage of the Davis Cup finals will take place in Malaga from November 22-27.
