Iga Swiatek's psychologist Daria Abramowicz backs Jenson Brooksby's autism revelation; pens emotional message

Iga Swiatek's psychologist, Daria Abramowicz, recently expressed her support for Jenson Brooksby after the latter disclosed his autism diagnosis earlier this week. Abramowicz hoped that Brooksby's confession would positively influence parents of young aspirants.

On Thursday, December 19, former World No. 33 Brooksby revealed to the tennis world that he has had autism spectrum disorder since childhood. The subject regarding his diagnosis is too close to home for the American, going by his social media post where he thanked his mother for her unwavering support.

"I was diagnosed on the severe end of the spectrum as a very young child. I was nonverbal until the age of four. It took 40 hours a week of intensive ABA therapy," Jenson Brooksby wrote on his Instagram account on Thursday. "My mother never gave up and did everything to help me. I wouldn't be where I am today without her."

Daria Abramowicz, who is World No. 2 Iga Swiatek's psychologist, showed solidarity with the 24-year-old as she implored for more conversations surrounding autism to be encouraged in society.

"Jenson Brooksby tells his story. And hopefully it will inspire many parents," Abramowicz wrote on her Instagram stories on Thursday.

Via Daria Abramowicz's Instagram story

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Jenson Brooksby on living with autism: "Just something I don’t want to have to keep to myself"

Jenson Brooksby reached a career-high ranking of No. 33 in 2022

Jenson Brooksby admitted to the Associated Press (AP) on Thursday that he had to be really mindful when it came to telling people in his life about his experience with autism.

"It’s... just something I don’t want to have to keep to myself. 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?" Brooksby told AP News.

Brooksby, who doesn't have any ATP rankings points currently, also claimed that he was unable to have verbal communication until the age of four. Although the American was initially a "very severe case", he is now on "the very mild end of the spectrum," according to Michelle Wagner, who is a mental health professional at Already Autism Health.

The 24-year-old's last pro-tour outing came at the 2023 Australian Open, where he lost in the third round to USA's Tommy Paul. While he was out of commission for the latter part of the season due to serious injuries, missing three doping tests in October that year, put his career on hold as he received an 18-month ban.