The Road to the Desert

Has it really been 8 years since our first voyage to that tennis oasis called Indian Wells?

He’s happy here, but why did he scream at me on center court?

We’ve seen this amazing event grow every year, but it’s still the best place in the world to see the game’s top players, and especially future top players, from point blank range. Not to mention the gorgeous environment, including the Tennis Garden itself, and the stark and monochromatic surrounding desert expanse. Not to mention the hotels, restaurants, celebrity encounters, and various other spontaneous adventures.

Like the time Tim Henman screamed at me on center court for changing my filming position between points. (I said I’d stay still.) Or the time I crashed into Roger Federer in the elevator carrying 3 camera bags. (He was gracious.)

Or when our digital still photographer, J.Gregory Swendsen, held the door into the media center for Anna Kournikova, and she turned and curtsied to him (or so he claims). Or the time videographer Giancarlo Andreani was able to replicate (down to the spices on his filet mignon) the exact meal consumed the previous night by his personal idol Andre Agassi at a famous desert steak…