King began the better of the two players at Philadelphia's Drexel University in the PSA World Series event and claimed the opening game, but she was unable to prevent Serme from dominating the next two games.

It put the world number three on course for a quarter-final spot, but the match was thrown back into the balance when King clinched the fourth game.

The New Zealand star eventually battled to a narrow victory in the final game, clinching a dramatic 11-5, 4-11, 6-11, 11-9, 13-11 triumph.

The result is a boost for King, a former world number four, as she continues to battle back after a long-term achilles injury.

"Camille is a classy player and has won some of the biggest tournaments - including this one - so to come away with a win against her is huge for me," said King.

"I was four in the world when I got injured and I guess a few people didn’t think I would be able to get back to that standard after such a major injury and I guess for a period there I didn’t think I was going to get back either.

"So the main thing for me is that I’m trying to play at that level again and hopefully I can continue the form that I have started with this season and see where it takes me."

King is due to face England’s Alison Waters in the quarter-finals, after she secured a 9-11, 11-5, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6 win after an hour against the United States’ Olivia Blatchford.

Nouran Gohar will meet Raneem El Welily in an all Egyptian quarter-final tie, with both having achieved impressive second round wins.

Gohar was a 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 11-5 winner against Wales’ Tesni Evans.

Second seed El Welily beat Joshna Chinappa of India 11-8, 11-3, 11-4.

Peru’s Diego Elias impressed in the men’s draw as the 20-year-old emerged as a 11-5, 11-9, 11-9 winner against sixth seed Marwan ElShorbagy of Egypt.

Elias will be rewarded with a quarter-final tie against Egypt’s Omar Mosaad, a 12-10, 11-8, 11-8 victor over New Zealand’s Paul Coll.

Fourth seed Ali Farag beat his compatriot Mazen Hesham 12-10, 10-12, 7-11, 11-4, 11-1 in a tough encounter.

He is scheduled to face another all-Egyptian tie when he meets Fares Dessouky in the last eight, with his opponent having advance via a 4-11, 11-2, 11-4, 11-7 win over Scotland’s Alan Clyne.