*WILD CARD GILLY TAKES FAST LANE TO Aon U.S. OPEN FIRST ROUND*

By: Alan Thatcher

*CHICAGO**, August 31: *Wild card Gilly Lane has been handed a monumental challenge in the forthcoming Aon US Open, a first round clash with reigning Chicago champion Peter Barker.**

Lane, the 23-year-old Penn graduate from Philadelphia, has honed his squash career in the Netherlands, where he has won two minor PSA tournaments. Now he is pitting himself against the world No.7 from London who beat former world champion David Palmer in the final of last year's Sweet Home Chicago Open.

The event was so successful that Chicago has been awarded the staging rights for the Aon U.S. Open, and Lane finds himself in the limelight against the tournament's No.4 seed.

Lane is looking forward to the prospect of achieving a major upset during this PSA Five Star event, which takes place in an open-air setting inside the spectacular McWil glass court which will be set up in Pioneer Court, between Tribune Tower and the Chicago River, from September 2-6.

He said: "I am definitely very excited to play Peter. He has been one of the top players in the world over the past couple of years, and he has continued to get better. He is someone that I have definitely tried to model my game after. He is athletic, quick, and very strong on the court, which makes him a tough player to beat. I am really looking forward to the match to see where I stand against one of the world's best, at one of the world's biggest stages."

Lane meets Barker on day two of the schedule on the glass court, which gives him extra time to practise and get used to the conditions. "That is a bonus," he added. "It's great to have the wild card opportunity and not have to go through a brutal qualifying competition. I plan on going out there and trying to play my game and see what happens. I don't have any pressure on me in this match and it is a great opportunity to play against someone of Peter's ability."

Aon US Open First Round Draw

Top Half, Wednesday September 2:

(1) Ramy Ashour (Egypt) v Qualifier

(6) Wael El Hindi (Egypt) v Qualifier

(3) David Palmer (Australia) v Qualifier

(8) Olli Tuominen (Finland) v Hisham Ashour (Egypt)

Bottom Half, Thursday September 3:

7 James Willstrop (England) v Qualifier

(4) Peter Barker (England) v Gilly Lane (USA)

(5) Adrian Grant (England) v Saurav Ghosal (India)

(2) Amr Shabana (Egypt) v Shahier Razik (Canada)

*MEDIA NOTES:*

The Aon U.S. Open is a Five Star ranking tournament on the Professional Squash Association (PSA) World Tour

*WEBSITE:*

Tournament website: www.usopen-squash.com

*DATES AND VENUES:*

Qualifying competition, Lakeshore Athletic Club and University Club, Chicago: August 31^st and September 1

Main Draw, on the Glass Court at Pioneer Court, Chicago: September 2-6

*MEDIA:*

For media enquiries, please contact Sam Chapman (CEO, Empower Public Relations)

Telephone: 312-961-9492.