Desert Desirae: Local tennis star, three-time Grand Slam champion Desirae Krawczyk at home at the BNP Paribas Open

“This area has been my home since I remembered,” Krawczyk said.

The former Palm Desert Aztec, Krawczyk and tennis are rooted here in the desert. There are so many memories he still has with him to this day.

“My dad introduced me to tennis when I was two,” Krawczyk said. “He played in a smaller club in the cathedral city and I grew up there watching him and started running on the field playing tennis. I did some lessons and then it just evolved from there and I just loved it so much. It took me here.”

Desirae said her first taste of professional tennis came when she was a ball girl in Indian Wells when she was a teenager. And now in the main move, doubles and play doubles, our valley tennis fans can’t get enough of it.

“Desirae is a special child. It’s very rewarding to see her here playing professionally,” said Owen McIntosh, a local tennis coach and family friend. “I’ve seen him play 100 matches, and seeing him at this level is just very rewarding.”

“We’ve been watching him through Palm Desert High School for years – we use high school matches and we watch him play even then,” said Arlene Bauer, a local tennis fan. “So it’s very exciting to see him.”

Fast forward this year – Desirae is playing the best tennis. Ever. And he has fun doing it. He encompasses not only the prizes but also the journey.

“I think I just learned a lot and it helped me in those moments when I played in the French Open finals mixed or Wimbledon central and then the US Open. It was just so cool,” Krawczyk said. “You’re this little girl who dreams of these things and it’s finally coming true and it’s absolutely amazing.”

But now is the Showtime. This is Indian Wells. Masters 100 event. Unofficial Fifth Slam of the Year. This is a big deal and the community knows it.

When they asked the fans why they were watching Desira, they shouted, “because we love him!”

“This kid grew out of the grassroots. So it’s very exciting that we in the desert get him on tour and we get the kind of success he has,” McIntosh said.

“I think I definitely have fans by my side, but we’ll see,” Krawczyk said. “I mean, I’m just so grateful to be able to play here and it’s only the second time I play here. But it’s just awesome to play in that atmosphere.”