Jenson Brooksby returns: From autism diagnosis to overcoming a suspension

Former World No. 33 Jenson Brooksby recently opened up about his autism diagnosis, which he has lived with since the age of two and a half. The American was once regarded as one of the brightest talents of his generation, reaching his career-high ranking at just 21 years old and securing a couple of wins against top-5 players.

However, his career was abruptly halted when he received a suspension for missing three doping tests within a 12-month period. Initially banned until January 2025, Brooksby successfully appealed his case, and his suspension was shortened, allowing him to return in January this year.

Brooksby Reveals Autism Diagnosis in Candid Interview

The American plans to make his comeback at the Challenger event in Canberra to regain match fitness before heading to Melbourne, where he will use his protected ranking to compete in the Australian Open. This news came to light following the release of the tournament’s entry list.

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In a recent interview with The Independent, the now 25-year-old player addressed his autism diagnosis for the first time, revealing that he was non-verbal until the age of four:“It’s ... just something I don’t want to have to keep to myself,” he shared.

“It’s obviously a personal topic that, even with people you may feel very comfortable with — in my mind, at least for a long time — it wasn’t (something) to just go blurting out as part of a conversation, you know? But I’ve always thought about it and ... I, eventually, just wanted to talk about it.”

Brooksby spent about 40 hours a week with therapists as a child “to be able to even just start talking ... (and) then to get better at communication and social situations.”

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The American credits his autism for giving him “great strength” to handle “high-pressure moments” on the court, explaining that he focuses on “two or three specific details really well for a long period of time.” However, he acknowledged that it also “makes (tennis) a little tougher” when dealing with frustrations during matches.

Brooksby was suspended by the ITA in 2022, not for testing positive for banned substances, but for missing three drug tests within a year. He attributes one of the missed tests to a lack of communication with a doping control officer in the Netherlands, stating that it “was not due to any negligence on (the player's) part.”