'Speech therapy was like a full-time job' - Jenson Brooksby gets candid on his struggles growing up with Autism

The challenges faced by an aspiring professional tennis player are enough to turn several away from the sport. However, American tennis pro Jenson Brooksby was not deterred, despite being diagnosed with Autism at an early age.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication. People who are on the autistic spectrum often face difficulties with social interaction and communication. Nonetheless, Brooksby was determined to achieve his goal of competing on the ATP Tour.

Tennis provided a means of escape, says Brooksby

In an interview with The Tennis Channel, the 24-year old gave fans a closer look at his upbringing and the challenges he faced navigating his life as someone on the autistic spectrum. Brooksby revealed he did not have many friends due to his difficulty in communicating, which led to him turning to tennis as a form of release.

"The main early sign of autism is just generally talking a little later than the average kid," began Brooksby. "I didn't say my first word until I was four. Speech therapy was like a full time job. It was harder to make friends.
"I started playing tennis around four years old. It was a great release for me to just let energy out playing sports. I was off the rails and wanting to be active, so tennis is kind of my favorite and also the most accessible because you can play it by yourself and hit in the garage."

After a brief hiatus from professional tennis, Brooksby would return to resume chasing his dream on the ATP Tour. The California native faced top-ranked British star Jack Draper in the opening round of the ongoing Queen's Club Championships, but fell in straight sets.