WTA staff offer support to British tennis player Jodie Burrage following severe online abuse in India.
British tennis player Jodie Burrage has received direct support from WTA staff at a tournament in India after being targeted with severe online death threats following a recent match, according to information published by BBC.
The 27-year-old athlete was bombarded with abusive social media messages after being defeated in her first WTA Tour singles main-draw match in sixteen months on Tuesday in Chennai, playing against India's Vaishnavi Adkar.
Despite the ordeal, Burrage returned to the court on Wednesday to win her last 16 doubles match at the Chennai Open alongside her American partner Robin Montgomery, highlighting player resilience amid mounting digital security concerns.
WTA response and Threat Matrix AI system
The WTA insists it is taking a proactive approach to protecting female athletes through its Threat Matrix system, which was established in 2023 and is delivered by Signify Group alongside World Tennis.
The artificial intelligence-led detection system successfully identifies people behind threatening accounts to enable formal investigations. Last year, female players faced more than 12,000 abusive posts, prompting the governing body to offer private reporting channels and comment moderation.
Gambling links to online sports abuse
Data from a Signify report reveals that angry gamblers were behind 48 percent of abusive posts in 2024, 42 percent in 2025, and 59 percent of serious abuse cases, connecting betting strongly to online harassment.
The WTA is actively working with several gambling companies in a real-time flagging program. This initiative allows operators to take direct action against abusive users by restricting, suspending, or flagging accounts targeting athletes.
Broader advocacy and player solidarity
Other professional athletes, including German player Eva Lys, have publicly shown solidarity with Burrage, who questioned when decisive action will be taken to properly combat persistent online abuse.
However, Mhairi Maclennan, chief executive of Kyniska Advocacy, stated that not enough is being done across sports, emphasizing that athletes frequently receive death and rape threats due to public profiles and betting ties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jodie Burrage receive death threats?
Jodie Burrage received online death threats after losing her first WTA Tour singles main-draw match in sixteen months against Vaishnavi Adkar at the Chennai Open in India.
What is the WTA Threat Matrix system?
The Threat Matrix is an AI-led detection system established in 2023 by the WTA, Signify Group, and World Tennis to identify, investigate, and take legal action against online abusers.
How are gambling companies linked to athlete abuse?
Research by Signify shows that angry gamblers were responsible for a large majority of serious abuse cases against athletes, prompting the WTA to partner with betting operators to suspend abusive accounts.
What support has Jodie Burrage received in Chennai?
WTA staff on the ground in Chennai offered Jodie Burrage direct support alongside the wider player welfare and Threat Matrix team following the social media threats.
