When Stefanos Tsitsipas last played at the BNP Paribas Open in 2019, he was 20 years old and the 10th-ranked player in the world. In his first match, he lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime, 6-4, 6-2, in a match that lasted little more than an hour.

Three days later, Tsitsipas posted an Instagram photo of himself sitting on a rock on a trail in La Quinta, not far from Indian Wells. He commented, “I love being here and there’s something special about this landscape. Something I can’t explain.”

His results at this tennis tournament, however, have yet to be special. He’s 1-2 in two career appearances here.

Tsitipas has not played here in the California desert, a place he has so much affinity for, since he posted that photo. A lot has changed in the sport since then, including the way Tsitsipas has played leading up to the BNP Paribas Open.

Now the second-seeded player in the draw, perhaps this is the year for the 23-year-old from Greece to make a deep run in a men’s draw that appears to be wide open.

Grand Slam champion Andy Murray said this week that the conditions here are a bit different than normal, with the tournament moved from March to October. Murray said that the balls are heavier and that players may need to make adjustments.

For Tsitsipas, the conditions won’t be a problem, he said.

“It’s very dry here,” Tsitsipas said. “We know that when we come here the conditions are really dry. That is good for me because I guess I sweat less, which makes for less bathroom breaks, which makes for less complaints, so very good sign so far.”

More:BNP Paribas Open: Debuts of Emma Raducanu, Leylah Fernandez and Coco Gauff just one of story lines

More:Rancho Mirage native Desirae Krawczyk aiming for next big doubles title at BNP Paribas Open

Tsitsipas comes to Indian Wells during his best season as a pro, but one that has had mixed results. He reached the semifinals at the Australian Open early in the year, and played in the finals in Acapulco, Monte Carlo and Barcelona.

He then reached his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros in the spring, beating top-10 players Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev in the process. Two weeks later, though, Tsitsipas lost his first-round match at Wimbledon to American Frances Tiafoe.

Tsitsipas got back to the semifinals in Toronto and Cincinnati before being upset in the Round of 16 by Carlos Alcaraz at the U.S. Open.

He’s a favorite to reach the finals here this year in Indian Wells, which is being played without any of the previous champions in the draw. That’s a unique situation for a player looking to win the biggest tournament title of his career.

“Indian Wells is known to be one of the best tennis tournaments in the world and I think every single player is excited to be playing here,” Tsitsipas said. “It does feel like kind of a big thing to play a Grand Slam, but you kind of feel the same honor playing in this tournament.”

Back at a place that he once said was “special,” Tsitsipas has a grand opportunity in front of him to make a run.