Katie Swan became Britain's youngest ever Fed Cup player at the age of 16 as she beat South Africa's Ilze Hattingh.
The teenager, ranked 524th, won 6-3 6-0 to give Britain a 1-0 lead in their opening tie at the Europe/Africa Group 1 tournament in Eilat, Israel.
Heather Watson and the doubles team of Jocelyn Rae and Anna Smith will play the remaining matches in the best-of-three tie.
Britain must win three ties to secure a World Group II play-off in April.
Captain Judy Murray selected Swan to play singles after Australian Open semi-finalist and British number one Johanna Konta withdrew because of illness.