Caty McNally and Eva Lys to face off in Indian Wells opening round

The two players will meet for the second time in their careers on Wednesday at the BNP Paribas Open

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Caty McNally and Eva Lys are scheduled to play each other in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Wednesday. This will be the second career meeting between the two players, with Lys holding a 1-0 head-to-head advantage after defeating McNally in the semifinals of a W60 event in Trnava, Slovakia in 2022. Both players are looking to make a deep run at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament.

Why it matters

This matchup between McNally and Lys is an intriguing early-round clash at one of the biggest events on the WTA calendar. Both players are looking to build momentum and gain valuable ranking points as they aim to climb the women's tennis rankings. The outcome of this match could have implications for the rest of their respective seasons.

The details

Caty McNally, currently ranked No. 68 in the world, has a 5-5 record so far in 2026, including a 3-4 mark on hard courts. Her best result at Indian Wells was reaching the second round in 2025. Eva Lys, ranked No. 70, has a 1-2 record in 2026 with a 1-2 hard court record. Lys' best Indian Wells result was also a second-round appearance in 2025.

  • The match is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 3:00 pm local time.
  • McNally and Lys previously met in the semifinals of a W60 event in Trnava, Slovakia in 2022, with Lys winning 6-1, 6-4.

The players

Caty McNally

An American tennis player currently ranked No. 68 in the world with a 202-135 career record and an 88-73 hard court record.

Eva Lys

A German tennis player currently ranked No. 70 in the world with a 177-118 career record and a 67-39 hard court record.

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What’s next

The winner of this match will advance to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open, where they will face a tougher challenge against a higher-seeded player.

The takeaway

This first-round clash between McNally and Lys is an early test for both players as they aim to make a deep run at one of the most prestigious events on the WTA calendar. The outcome could have significant implications for the rest of their respective seasons.