Jimmy Arias
A tennis prodigy with a blistering forehand who became the youngest top-ten player of his era before evolving into a sharp television analyst.
Born 1964 (age 62)·American tennis player and TV commentator·Birthday: August 16·Baby Boomers
Biography
Jimmy Arias exploded onto the tennis scene as a teenage sensation from Buffalo, New York, known for a ferocious forehand that commentators dubbed the 'Arias Whiplash.' He turned professional at just 16 and, in 1983, catapulted into the global spotlight by winning the U.S. Clay Court Championships and reaching the semifinals of the US Open at age 19. His aggressive, all-or-nothing style and peak world ranking of No. 5 made him one of the most exciting American players of the early 1980s. While injuries prevented him from sustaining that elite level deep into his career, his understanding of the game never faded. He smoothly transitioned into broadcasting, where his technical insight and dry wit have made him a fixture on tennis coverage for decades. Arias also dedicates time to coaching, passing on the lessons from his unique journey through the sport's highest echelons.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Jimmy was born in 1964, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jimmy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1964
#1 Movie
Mary Poppins
Best Picture
My Fair Lady
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Jimmy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1964Born
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1969Started school
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1977Became a teenager
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Could drive
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1982Could vote
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Turned 21
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1994Turned 30
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 40
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 50
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 60
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 62 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 5 in 1984.
- Advanced to the semifinals of the US Open in 1983 at the age of 19.
- Won the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in 1983, a key tournament victory.
Did You Know?
He was coached from childhood by the famous instructor Nick Bollettieri.
He remains one of the youngest male players ever to be ranked in the world's top ten.
He has served as a commentator for the Tennis Channel for many years.
“That forehand wasn't a shot; it was a statement.”
