Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli left local hope Jarmila Gajdosova in tears after routing the Australian 6-0 6-0 as France eased to a 3-0 Hopman Cup victory.
Spain overcame China 2-1 and the winner of the upcoming France-Spain clash will be guaranteed a place in the final of the mixed-team event.
Bartoli was in imperious form to blast Gajdosova off court in 52 minutes in a match broadcast on prime-time television in Australia.
Gajdosova was angered during the first set when pro-Bartoli sections of the crowd cheered her errors and the world number 33 cried during the final games and again as she left the court.
Bartoli's team mate Richard Gasquet secured victory for France with a 6-2 5-7 6-1 win over Lleyton Hewitt.
Gasquet and Bartoli then overcame Gajdosova and Hewitt 6-3 6-4 in the dead mixed doubles rubber.
Earlier, Li Na continued her form resurgence but was unable to prevent China's defeat by Spain.
The world number five peeled off 18 forehand winners to beat Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-1 but that was as good as it got for China.
Spain's Fernando Verdasco made light work of the lowest-ranked player in the tournament, world number 424 Wu Di, cruising through 6-3 6-4.
Wu struggled in the deciding mixed doubles and Spain won 6-0 6-2.
