Arias Hopes His Luck Is Finally Changing : Once Ranked Fifth in the World, He’s Trying to Regain Lost Ground

A couple of things are different in the life of Jimmy Arias. For one thing, there’s no serious injury to report, unless you count strep throat. Which you don’t, if you’ve been wrapped in miles of bandages like this guy has.

It used to be that when Arias entered the press room for his post-match chats, the chill from the ice packs draped over his body would send the temperature plummeting.

Another change is this slump business. It’s over.

The one-time boy-wonder managed to survive the first round Tuesday, heading off a disturbing trend of late. He defeated John Fitzgerald, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, in the Volvo tournament, a men’s Grand Prix event at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the UCLA campus.

It may not sound like much--considering Arias was ranked fifth in the world in 1983--but Tuesday’s first-round win was yet another affirmation for Arias that his luck has turned.

“It’s been tough. I went two years without losing in the first round,” Arias said. “I’ve lost in the first round four straight tournaments this year.”

The shift in fortunes came after his career was at its nadir. His computer ranking has bobbed up and down, settling this week at 25. Respectable, but a long way from where it had been.

Arias was on the cutting edge of young players who turned pro in adolescence (15) and joined the circuit. Tennis observers said it was too soon. Arias’ coach and father agreed.

When Arias crumpled, failing to win a title or even reach a final in 1984, his slide was attributed to his inability to withstand the pressure that came with a top-10 ranking.

But there was more to it than that. Arias was still growing and maturing physically. He was frequently injured. Apart from the usual tennis complaints (his right arm and shoulder are particularly vulnerable) Arias seemed to stumble into fluke accidents.

He suffered from mononucleosis for many months, trying to play while weakened and fatigued. This week it’s strep throat. Arias blandly remarked that the fever broke Tuesday, and really the only problem is that he’s groggy from the drugs.

More typical was the latest injury. It occurred at Washington, last July, at a time when Arias was feeling pretty good and was playing well. He stepped on to the court to warm up for his first-round match. On the first ball, he felt a snap in his right shoulder. Pulled muscle.

Unable to serve conventionally but determined to continue, Arias served underhand during the match. He lost.

Arias then changed coaches, switching from longtime coach Nick Bollettieri to the tutelage of former tour player Brian Gottfried.

“I needed a change, a new look,” Arias said. “I was sick of playing tennis and sick of the way I played. It just went down. It was no big deal. I’ll still go to Nick once in a while and work out. He’ll still say he’s my coach.

“I have a new outlook. I just wasn’t working hard enough with Nick. I had been with him so long that I didn’t listen to him anymore. With Brian, I showed up late for practice one day and I had to run four miles before I could start.”

Gottfried, who was known as a technically excellent player, is paying special attention to Arias’ net game. Or, more accurately, Gottfried is installing a net game.

“I’m still not comfortable with it yet,” Arias said. “I was working on coming to the net today. But I came in one time and I blew it and said ‘See you later, net.’ I’m getting better and better each week.”

And he’s getting a better perspective on the game. He’s had two years of ‘What happened to you’ questions. He’s had the pressure of being labeled America’s next male tennis superstar.

Then there was the Olympics. The betting odds had Arias winning the gold medal in the Olympic tennis exhibition. Instead, he lost in the semifinals to eventual gold medal winner Stefan Edberg of Sweden.

“Everyone in America is so big on winning, winning,” Arias said. “The pressure is ridiculous, especially for younger players. It’s different for guys like the Swedes. They have a little team of guys. Their country adores them. They have a good attitude. They have fun.”

Which is what Arias, still just 21, would like to be having. Even if others write him off, he’s not ready to give up.

It’s time for round two.

In Tuesday night’s first round singles, second-seeded Edberg survived a scare from unseeded Mark Dickson, winning, in 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

John McEnroe, the tournament’s top seed, makes his first appearance here tonight. He will play Vijay Amritraj in a 7:30 p.m. match. The day session, which begins at noon, will feature three second-round singles matches and the continuation of the first round of doubles.