British tennis star Jodie Burrage has called on social media platforms to hold people accountable for sending death threats and abuse after her first-round defeat at the Chennai Open on Tuesday.
Burrage, playing her first WTA Tour match since Wimbledon last summer, lost 3-6 6-3 7-5 to India’s Vaishnavi Adkar. The 27-year-old then shared a series of abusive messages sent to her Instagram account. Alongside the video, she wrote: “Nice welcome back to the tour. I remember why I left.”
The WTA, in partnership with Wimbledon, World Tennis and the United States Tennis Association, launched its AI-led Threat Matrix service three years ago to identify and tackle online abuse against players and officials.
During the match, played in sweltering conditions, Burrage was visibly shaking. Officials checked her blood pressure and oxygen levels, and ice was rubbed on her arms and legs. She resumed play but lost the final game to love.
“I received quite a few messages on social media,” Burrage said. “Abusive messages and things that you shouldn’t be getting after a match, or that anyone should ever have to deal with in that matter anyway.”
She said the messages made a difficult day harder. “With what happened in the match as well, me not feeling my best, my blood pressure actually tanked at the end of that third set,” she said. “So obviously people were concerned back home. I was on my phone in the physio room with the doctors and replying to people, telling them I was OK, and then I was seeing these messages come up on my phone.”
Burrage said she did not read most of the messages. She screenshotted some to share with others and then posted them in a video to raise awareness of what players face after a tough loss.
Gamblers Drive Much of the Abuse
Data from Threat Matrix shows that female tennis players faced more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025. Angry gamblers were responsible for 42 per cent of verified abuse and 59 per cent of serious abuse.
Burrage said the abuse is not limited to losses. “It’s not just after losses. If I win a match, I normally get some sort of abuse as well, with the way that tennis works. You can bet on a lot of things,” she said.
“I think that’s where the anger comes from; it’s probably losing money. And the messages say it as well. They want their money back or shouldn’t have bet, or I lost the money.”
She said she usually handles such messages well, but this time was different. “At the end of the day, we’re pretty used to receiving it. So you get used to batting it away and not thinking twice about it. But I shouldn’t have to – that’s the point!”
Burrage said she was encouraged by the response from people who reached out to express outrage. “I’m kind of glad it got the awareness,” she said. “I guess I’ve got people talking because I do believe something needs to happen. Trying to change it is the most important thing.”
She added that the problem extends beyond tennis. “It’s all sports, sports people and whoever’s on social media as well. Beyond tennis and sports people, it’s social media in general, I think. So it’s a lot bigger than me, than other people, than tennis.”
Calls for Stronger Action
Burrage is one of several players who have spoken publicly about the level of abuse they receive and what they see as a failure by governing bodies and social media companies to address it effectively.
A report released in July found that 66 per cent of serious abusive posts and comments identified by the program were removed. Another 35 accounts, linked to 12 individuals, were escalated to law enforcement. Burrage, whose career-high WTA singles ranking was No 85 in 2023, believes more can be done.
“What hasn’t been done is having an ID connected to your social media account. I feel like that’s an easy fix. I could be being naive with that. But then it makes people accountable, and it makes people accountable for what they post and what they say,” she said.
“If actions want to be taken, then they can, especially with threats. When someone’s safety is being compromised.”
WTA Responds
The WTA has offered Burrage additional support. She said she believes the governing body is doing what it can, but she feels the greater responsibility lies with social media platforms.
“I think the WTA doing everything they can. I’m currently speaking to a few people I’ve been told to get in touch with about all things. So I’ll wait to see if that helps,” Burrage said. “For me, it’s more the platforms themselves. I think more could be done to try and limit it and to try and change it and make people accountable for what they say to other people online.”
A WTA spokesperson said that protecting players from online threats and abuse is a key priority. WTA staff are on the ground in Chennai to support Burrage, alongside the organization’s player welfare and Threat Matrix teams.
The spokesperson said Threat Matrix, which the WTA established in 2023 and which is delivered by Signify Group alongside World Tennis, identifies, investigates and takes action against those responsible. This includes reporting abusive content for removal, escalating serious cases to law enforcement and working to prevent real-world harm.
Because much of the abuse players receive arrives through direct messages, the WTA has offered Burrage a private channel to report abusive direct messages. It has also provided moderation that hides abusive comments on public channels before she sees them. Threat Matrix is reporting the abuse she received to the platforms, and investigations are underway to identify those responsible. Where abuse is linked to betting, those responsible will be added to the Bad Actor program so betting operators can act against their accounts.
Looking Ahead
Burrage is now focused on a pre-season block of training before she returns to competition in the new year. She said she is working to rebuild her body after getting sick during the grass-court season, which she is still feeling.
“Everything I’m doing now is to build up for my 2027,” she said. “I really feel I need to build my body back up. I got sick over grass this year, which I’m still feeling the effects of.”
She plans to start the new season in Australia, a place where she has played well before. “I always love it there. To start in a place that I’ve played well in and where I’m hopefully in a good spot. It’s exciting and I’m excited to get back out there.”