SHARM EL SHEIKH (Egypt), Sept 18 Egypt's hopes of its first female semi-finalist in a World Open took a leap as Omneya Abdel Kawy got past the toughest first round hurdle in the draw on Saturday.

The world No 5 from Cairo won 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8 against Tania Bailey, a qualifier but also a former world No 4 who is making her way back tenaciously after a series of career-threatening injuries.

There were moments, especially in the third game, when Bailey chiselled a four-point deficit back to 8-9, and in the fourth, in which she led 5-4, when it seemed the Englishwoman's volleying and heavy driving might prevail.

But Kawy, who has always usually done well on home soil, produced some tight-to-the-wall clinging drops and some brilliantly masked winners at vital moments to snatch an important win.

Kawy may wish to feed off the memories of two years ago in Cairo when she led Egypt to a world team title triumph with a surprise 2-1 win over the titleholders, England.

She knows too that the withdrawal of Rachael Grinham, the former world champion from Australia, has given her a better chance, for she has moved up one slot to fourth seed, offering a significantly better route to the semi-finals.

But that's something that Kawy does not want to consider for now.

“It can help,” she agreed, “but I have to be thinking match by match as usual.”

The next one is against Jaclyn Hawkes, the 15th-seeded New Zealander, who played a solid match in getting past Donna Urquhart of Australia, by 11-5, 11-5, 11-3.If Kawy wins again, as she should, she is likely to face Ireland's Madeline Perry, who began with a 12-10, 11-9,11-5 win over Delia Arnold of Malaysia.

Meanwhile the injured Grinham is likely to be out of action for ten days with the calf injury.

Earlier Camille Serme, the ninth-seed, had to survive a scare before reaching the second round.

The 21-year-old Frenchwoman was twice within a point of going two games down before she came through 9-11, 14-12, 11-4, 11-4 against Annelize Naude, a qualifier from The Netherlands.

Results (prefix number denotes seeding)

First round 9-Camille Serme (France) bt Annelize Naude (Netherlands) 9-11, 14-12, 11-4, 11-4; 8-Laura Massaro (England) bt Aisling Blake (Ireland) 11-3, 13-11, 11-1; 15-Jaclyn Hawkes (New Zealand) bt Donna Urquhart (Australia) 11-5, 11-5, 11-3; 4-Omneya Abdel Kawy (Egypt) bt Tania Bailey (England) 11-7, 6-11, 11-8, 11-8; 10-Kasey Brown (Australia) bt Manuela Manetta (Italy) 11-4, 11-5, 11-3; 5-Madeline Perry (Ireland) bt Delia Arnold (Malaysia) 12-10, 11-9, 11-5; 6-Natalie Grainger (US) bt Sarah Kippax (England) 11-6, 5-11, 11-2, 11-6.—AFP