Jenson Brooksby talks life and play with autism

Brooksby was diagnosed with the condition before he was three years old and was unable to speak until he was four. As a child, he reportedly worked 40 hours a week with a therapist.

“It's obviously a personal topic and even with people you might feel comfortable with – in my opinion, at least over a long period of time – it's not (something) just blurted out as part of a conversation, You know what? “But I've been thinking about it a lot…and ultimately, I just wanted to talk about it,” said Brooksby, a Northern California native. “

Brooksby, who was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency for missing doping tests and has suffered multiple injuries leading to surgeries, has not competed since the 2022 Australian Open.

The American was banned for 18 months for missing three doping tests, with his sentence reduced by five months and backdated to the date of his third missed test. He was eligible to play this past March but has been on the sidelines as he struggles with injuries and forms a new team.

He was considered one of the top players in the country at the time because of his disruptive, off-kilter game, his intensity on the court and his skillful moves to match his 6-foot-4 frame.

He will play a challenger event in Canberra before heading to the Australian Open, which starts on January 12.

“I just want people to fully understand me, and this is just another part of me,” Brooksby said. “I had a lot of time not playing and a lot of things to think about.”