Jodie Burrage: British tennis player calls on social media platforms to hold people accountable for sending abusive messages
British tennis star Jodie Burrage has called on social media platforms to hold people accountable for sending death threats and abuse.
Burrage, who was playing her first WTA Tour match since Wimbledon last summer, received death threats and online abuse following a first-round defeat at a tournament in India on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old shared a raft of abusive messages sent to her Instagram account after a gruelling 3-6 6-3 7-5 defeat by India's Vaishnavi Adkar. Alongside the video, Burrage wrote: "Nice welcome back to the tour. I remember why I left."
It has been three years since the WTA - in partnership with Wimbledon, World Tennis and the United States Tennis Association - launched the AI-led Threat Matrix service, which aims to identify and tackle online abuse against players and officials.
Burrage was visibly shaking and had her blood pressure and oxygen levels checked as well as ice rubbed on her arms and legs during the match in sweltering conditions. She was able to resume the contest but lost the final game to love.
"I received quite a few messages on social media," Burrage told Sky Sports. "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.
"I got them after the match and it didn't make it easier, that's for sure.
"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.
"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.
"It's probably not the best thing to be on your phone, but in that circumstance, I kind of had to be.
"I didn't actually look at most of the messages. I screenshot some to send to someone to show them and then decided to post them [in a video] for awareness of what it's like after a tough loss."
Data from Threat Matrix showed female tennis players faced more than 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025, with angry gamblers responsible for 42 per cent of verified abuse and 59 per cent of serious abuse.
"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," explained Burrage.
"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.
"I've spoken to so many people, especially in the last few days. It's not easy after a tough loss like that to receive those kind of messages. I normally deal with it pretty well.
"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!
"It's amazing that a lot of people got in touch and were so up in arms, saying, 'I can't believe you receive this'.
"I'm kind of glad it got the awareness. I guess I've got people talking because I do believe something needs to happen. Trying to change it is the most important thing.
"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."
Burrage is one of a number of players to have previously spoken out about the level of abuse received and a failure of the governing bodies and social media companies to tackle it effectively.
A report released in July said 66 per cent of serious abusive posts and comments identified by the programme were removed, while 35 accounts linked to 12 individuals were escalated to law enforcement, but Burrage, who had a career-high WTA singles ranking of No 85 in 2023, feels 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.
"If actions want to be taken, then they can, especially with threats. When someone's safety is being compromised."
The WTA has offered additional support to Burrage, although the Brit fears the governing body for women's tennis can only do so much, with the greater emphasis on social media platforms to make more of an effort in combating death threats and abuse.
She said: "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.
"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."
Having made her first singles appearance on the tour in Chennai since a first-round defeat at Wimbledon in 2025, Burrage is also focusing on a solid pre-season block of training before returning to action in the new year.
"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 [court season] this year, which I'm still feeling the effects of.
"So I'm wanting to put a really good block in, which I'm kind of starting now, to be honest with the stuff off the court. Everything is for a good start in 2027, where I'll go to Australia.
"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."
In response to Burrage highlighting the abuse she received earlier this week, a WTA spokesperson told Sky Sports News: "Protecting players and the wider tennis family from online threats and abuse is a key priority for the WTA.
"We have WTA staff on the ground in Chennai offering Jodie support, along with our wider player welfare and Threat Matrix team.
"Through Threat Matrix, a system we established in 2023, delivered by Signify Group alongside World Tennis, we identify, investigate and take action against those responsible.
"This includes reporting abusive content for removal, escalating serious cases to law enforcement and supporting action to prevent real-world harm.
"As much of the abuse players receive comes through direct messages, the WTA has offered Jodie additional support, including a private channel to report abusive direct messages, and moderation that hides abusive comments on public channels before she sees them.
"Threat Matrix is also reporting the abuse Jodie received to the platforms, and investigations are underway to identify those responsible.
"Where the abuse is linked to betting, they will be added to the Bad Actor programme so betting operators can act against their accounts."
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