The pair, runners-up in the million dollar mixed teams’ event last year, both won their singles encounters before wrapping up the mixed doubles to give the US a 3-0 clean sweep.
The 28-year-old Seles — currently ranked eighth — recovered from a shaky start to overpower Virginie Razzano, 18, who is ranked 72nd.
Seles had to fight hard to get home in straight sets, winning 6-3, 6-4 in 62 minutes.
Then the 24-year-old Gambill (ranked 21st) wore down a determined Arnaud Clement, 24, (18th) to win 6-4, 6-4 in 91 minutes.
In the doubles, Seles and Gambill coasted home 6-1, 6-4.
The Americans are aiming to go one better than last year when they were beaten by Swiss pair Martina Hingis and Roger Federer in the final of the eight-nation contest.
Gambill was pressed hard by Clement before taking the first set in 47 minutes.
But the American gained the ascendancy in the second set, breaking in the third and fifth games.
Seles, slow into her stride, slipped to 2-3 in her opening set against Razzano, but recovered quickly, claiming the set after snatching four games in a row.
In the second set, Seles broke her opponent in the opening game and completed victory with relative ease despite Razzano’s tenacious efforts.
Monday’s results:
United States bt France 3-0 (Monica Seles bt Virginie Razzano 6-3, 6-4; Jan-Michael Gambill bt Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-4; Seles/Gambill bt Razzano/ Clement 6-1, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Greg Rusedski and Thomas Enqvist cruised through their opening round matches at the Australian men’s hardcourt championship in Adelaide.
British sixth seed Rusedski eclipsed Spain’s Jacobo Diaz in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).
Sweden’s Enqvist, the tournament’s third seed, accounted for Chilean Marcelo Rios 6-0, 6-3.
While Rusedski and Enqvist advanced to the second round, Swedish seventh seed Andreas Vinciguerra was eliminated by Spain’s Alberto Martin, 6-3, 6-4.
Eighth seed Ivan Ljubicic from Croatia also advanced in a tight encounter with American Michael Russell, winning 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (15-13).
Frenchman Jerome Golmard ousted Australian Davis Cup team member Wayne Arthurs, 6-4, 6-0, while compatriot Michael Llodra eliminated South African Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Australian Richard Fromberg won his qualifying match Monday against Frenchman Gregory Carraz 6-4, 6-4 and will play tournament top seed Britain’s Tim Henman Tuesday.
Second seed Pete Sampras meets Todd Martin in an all-American encounter Tuesday night.
Monday’s results (x denotes seeding):
1st round: Alberto Martin (Esp) bt Andreas Vinciguerra (Swe x7) 6-3, 6-4; Greg Rusedski (Gbr x6) bt Jacobo Diaz (Esp) 6-3, 7-6 (7-4); Thomas Enqvist (Swe x3) bt Marcelo Rios (Chi) 6-0, 6-3; Ivan Ljubicic (Cro x8) bt Michael Russell (USA) 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (15/13); Scott Draper (Aus) bt Andre Sa (Bra) 6-1, 6-2; Jerome Golmard (Fra) bt Wayne Arthurs (Aus) 6-4, 6-0; Michael Llodra (Fra) bt Wayne Ferreira (Rsa) 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
MONDAY’S DOHA ATP RESULTS:
1st round: Bohdan Ulihrach (Cze x5) bt Galo Blanco (Spa x12) 6-2, 6-2; Oleg Ogordov (Uzb) bt Nasser al-Khulaifi (Qat) 6-1, 6-2; Jonas Bjorkman (Swe x13) bt Jan Vacek (Cze) 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-3; Younes El-Aynaoui (Mar x 6) bt Cedric Pioline (Fra) 7-6 (7-2), 6-4; Felix Mantilla (Spa x8) bt Cristiano Caratti (Ita) 6-1, 6-1.—AFP