Fighting both her opponent and sinusitis, England's Tania Bailey courageously battled through to the last four of the Women's World Open Squash Championship in the Spanish capital Madrid to claim her maiden appearance in the semi-finals of the sport's premier women's event.

After two rounds at the city's Club Palestra, action switched to an open-air all-glass court at the Jardines del Cabo Noval, adjacent to the Palacio Real.  The 2007 World Open Championship is the first sports event ever to be held alongside Madrid's historic Royal Palace.

The Lincolnshire lass continued her incredible run in the event with a 9-0, 10-9, 7-9, 9-4 defeat of former world champion Vanessa Atkinson, the No8 seed from the Netherlands.

Struck down by sinusitis on the eve of the championship, fourth seed Bailey struggled with her breathing in both victories leading to the quarter-finals.

"I couldn't quite believe it," said the 28-year-old from Stamford after claiming the first semi-final place of the day - and the first of her career in the event.

"I felt really relaxed tonight, whereas yesterday I felt a bit edgy - and Vanessa wasn't moving as well as normal.  I did feel a bit tired today, but I was desperate to play well, and I did.  Vanessa's won everything there is to win. 

"I've been training hard through the summer - and if I hadn't, I probably wouldn't have got through the first two rounds. 

"Two days ago, I didn't have any hopes of getting this far," conceded the England number one who now goes on to meet Australia's No2 seed Natalie Grinham, last year's runner-up.

There was disappointment later when Bailey's England team-mate Jenny Duncalf crashed out of the event, losing 9-3, 9-2, 9-1 to the older Grinham sister Rachael Grinham.

"She just outplayed me - I just couldn't get into it," said the said the 24-year-old ninth seed from Harrogate in Yorkshire.

"I hit too many loose shots."

Quarter-final results:
[5] Natalie Grainger (USA) bt [10] Shelley Kitchen (NZL) 9-2, 9-1, 9-0 (23m)
[3] Rachael Grinham (AUS) bt [9] Jenny Duncalf (ENG) 9-3, 9-2, 9-1 (29m)
[4] Tania Bailey (ENG) bt [8] Vanessa Atkinson (NED) 9-0, 10-9, 7-9, 9-4 (49m)
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) bt [7] Omneya Abdel Kawy (EGY) 4-9, 9-2, 9-0, 9-4 (44m)

Semi-final line-up:
[5] Natalie Grainger (USA) v [3] Rachael Grinham (AUS)
[2] Natalie Grinham (AUS) v [4] Tania Bailey (ENG)