Table of Content
British tennis player Jodie Burrage has called on social media platforms to introduce stricter accountability measures, including mandatory ID verification, after receiving death threats and severe online abuse following a match in India.
The 27-year-old received a barrage of abusive messages on Instagram after losing 3-6 6-3 7-5 to India’s Vaishnavi Adkar in the first round of a tournament in Chennai. The contest was Burrage’s first singles appearance on the WTA Tour since competing at Wimbledon last summer.
Extreme Heat and Post-Match Messages
During the match, played in extreme heat, Burrage required medical intervention to check her blood pressure and oxygen levels while trainers applied ice to her arms and legs. Although she resumed play, her blood pressure dropped significantly during the final set before she lost the final game to love.
While recovering in the medical room, Burrage used her phone to reassure concerned family members about her health, only to see abusive messages arriving on her screen. She subsequently published screenshots of the comments in a video to raise public awareness of the harassment players face after matches.
Burrage told Sky Sports that abusive messages occur regardless of whether she wins or loses, often driven by individuals losing money on sports wagers. Data from the AI-led Threat Matrix monitoring service showed that female tennis players faced more than 12,000 abusive posts on social media in 2025, with angry gamblers responsible for 42 percent of verified abuse and 59 percent of serious abuse.
Calls for Platform Reform
Burrage emphasized that while athletes often attempt to ignore online hostility, social media companies must implement systemic changes to hold users responsible. She suggested requiring personal identification to create accounts, arguing that such a measure would force individuals to answer for online threats and harassment.
A report published in July showed that the Threat Matrix service successfully facilitated the removal of 66 percent of serious abusive posts, while 35 accounts connected to 12 individuals were escalated to law enforcement. Despite those actions, Burrage stated that primary responsibility rests with social platforms to prevent harm before it occurs.
WTA Response and Future Plans
Addressing the incident, a WTA spokesperson told Sky Sports News that protecting players is a key priority for the organization. The governing body stated that staff members on the ground in Chennai are supporting Burrage, while Threat Matrix works to investigate the messages and report them to law enforcement and platform operators. Individuals linked to gambling abuse will also be added to a Bad Actor program to restrict their betting accounts.
Moving forward, Burrage is concentrating on a extended training block to rebuild her physical fitness following an illness during the grass-court season, aiming for a full return to competition in Australia at the start of 2027.
