British tennis player Jodie Burrage receives death threats and abuse following her first WTA Tour match in 16 months.
British tennis player Jodie Burrage faced a shocking wave of online abuse and death threats after playing her first WTA Tour singles match proper in 16 months at the Chennai Open in India.
The 27-year-old Londoner suffered a first-round defeat against local player Vaishnavi Adkar, who fought back from a set down to secure a 3-6 6-3 7-5 victory at the tournament.
Following the match, Burrage shared a video scroll of direct messages containing severe abuse on her Instagram account, according to information published by BBC.
Social Media Abuse And Player Safety Concerns
Reflecting on the hostile reception after her return to competition, Burrage stated that she now remembers why she originally left the tour.
German tennis player Eva Lys quickly showed public solidarity by tagging the WTA on Instagram and asking when authorities will finally take decisive action.
The latest incident highlights ongoing safety concerns for female athletes competing on the international tennis circuit, with digital harassment remaining a persistent problem.
The Impact Of Angry Sports Bettors
Data from the Signify Group threat matrix service, which utilizes artificial intelligence-led detection, reveals the severe scale of online harassment in professional tennis.
According to research, female tennis players were targeted with more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media channels last year.
The data indicates that angry gamblers were responsible for 42% of verified abuse cases in 2025 and accounted for a staggering 59% of serious abuse incidents.
Calls For Identity Verification
The growing wave of online hostility has prompted athletes and governing bodies to demand stronger protective measures across digital platforms.
Fellow professional players have previously called for mandatory identity verification to be introduced by social media companies to tackle targeted abuse.
The WTA player board has repeatedly condemned the harassment as unacceptable, emphasizing that the psychological impact on athletes can be significant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jodie Burrage receive death threats?
Jodie Burrage received death threats and online abuse after losing her first-round match to Vaishnavi Adkar at the Chennai Open upon returning to the WTA Tour.
Who is Jodie Burrage?
Jodie Burrage is a 27-year-old British tennis player and the British number 15, who recently returned to competitive action after a 16-month absence from the WTA Tour.
How much abuse do female tennis players face online?
According to Signify Group data, female tennis players faced more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages, with angry gamblers responsible for a large share of serious abuse.
What are players demanding to stop social media abuse?
Professional tennis players have called for social media platforms to introduce mandatory identity verification to help prevent online harassment and death threats.
