Key Highlights
- British tennis player Jodie Burrage faced severe online abuse and death threats following her first match back on the WTA Tour after a 16-month absence.
- Burrage was defeated in the first round in Chennai by India’s Vaishnavi Adkar with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
- The 27-year-old athlete publicly condemned the messages on Instagram and formally reported the toxic attacks to the WTA, echoing past threats faced by fellow British player Katie Boulter.
Jodie Burrage Faces Vicious Online Abuse Following Chennai Return
British tennis player Jodie Burrage has revealed that she was targeted with graphic death threats and vitriolic abuse on social media following her return to competitive tennis. Burrage, currently ranked World No. 474 and listed as Great Britain’s No. 15, made her comeback after 16 months away from the WTA Tour. Competing in the first round of the tournament in Chennai, the 27-year-old suffered a narrow opening-round defeat against India’s Vaishnavi Adkar, falling 3-6, 6-3, 7-5.
Shortly after the hard-fought match, Burrage utilized her Instagram Stories to bring awareness to the extreme harassment directed at her personal accounts. Expressing her frustration with the persistent toxicity that players face online, Burrage wrote:
What a welcome back to the tour! Now I remember why I left. When are you going to do something about it?
She further called out the governing body directly, writing, What a welcome back to the tour! Now I remember why I left. When are they going to do something about it?
as she formally reported the incidents to the WTA.
Extreme Messages Directed at the British Player
The messages sent to Burrage were characterized by severe misogyny and violent threats. Among the vile comments she received were: you are a coward who throws in the towel. Truly, you are a disgrace to this sport. Today you got a beating, and you are precisely the reason why women’s sport is a joke
. Other direct harassment included horrific instructions urging self-harm and violence, stating, I hope you go home and kill yourself, because, honestly, it’s the best thing you can do. You will never measure up to a man, bitch
as well as die and cause riots in the streets
.
The disturbing incident involving Burrage mirrors an ongoing pattern of abuse aimed at professional players, often tied to dissatisfied sports bettors following match outcomes. Burrage’s compatriot Katie Boulter faced similar hostility during 2025. Boulter previously confessed to receiving explicit death threats and targeted vitriol on social media, including horrific messages such as I hope you get cancer,
we will desecrate your grandmother’s grave if she isn’t dead by tomorrow,
and go to hell; I’ve lost the money my mother sent me.
Why This Matters
Burrage’s harrowing experience underscores the dark underbelly of digital communication in professional sports, where athletes regularly endure unchecked harassment following match losses. The direct challenge posed by Burrage to tennis governing bodies—asking when meaningful action will be taken—highlights the urgent call for improved safeguarding measures, digital protections, and collaboration with social media platforms. With online gambling intensifying reactions to sports outcomes, the ongoing abuse suffered by players like Burrage and Boulter remains one of the most critical welfare issues confronting the modern WTA Tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tournament was Jodie Burrage competing in when the abuse occurred?
Jodie Burrage was playing in the first round of the WTA tournament in Chennai, where she was defeated 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 by India’s Vaishnavi Adkar.
How long had Jodie Burrage been away from the WTA Tour?
The match in Chennai marked Burrage’s return to the WTA Tour after a 16-month absence from competition.
Did Burrage report the social media threats to authorities?
Yes, Burrage published screenshots of the abusive messages to her Instagram Stories and reported the attacks directly to the WTA.
