The French N.1 (34th in the world) was off to a good start with a smooth first round and a new entry break in the second set which seemed to open the way to a fairly easy victory against the 48th in the world.
But the Italian, beaten by the French in their first two confrontations, found some teeth after this difficult start to inflict a severe 6-0 on Cornet and push her into the third set.
The two players then went one after the other in an intense final.
And it was Alizé Cornet who, after wasting two match points at 5-4, broke down in the decisive game with several fatal unforced errors.
The second match of the day will oppose the Italian N.1 Camila Giorgi (30th in the world) to the Frenchwoman Océane Dodin (94th), called up to the France team after the withdrawal of Caroline Garcia and Clara Burel.
Three points are needed to qualify for the final phase which will bring together twelve nations in November.
Two other singles are scheduled for Saturday before a possible decisive double in the event of a tie at 2-2.
© 2022 AFP