Jodie Burrage says online abuse follows every match as she calls for action

British tennis player Jodie Burrage says she receives abusive messages after every match, including threats to her life, but has become so accustomed to them that she does not fear for her safety. She is calling for social media platforms to do more to hold users accountable.

Burrage, 27, told BBC Sport that she tries not to read the messages. Some, she said, were “brutal”, and the abuse can hurt more when she is already struggling. “This tour is tricky enough as it is,” she said.

The messages followed her first WTA Tour singles match in 16 months, a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 defeat by Indian wildcard Vaishnavi Adkar. Burrage said her blood pressure fell towards the end of the match. She later shared screenshots of the abuse on Instagram to draw attention to what she described as a routine problem for professional players.

“It happens every match – whether it’s win or lose,” she said, recalling that she also received abuse after each of four matches she played in Wrexham last month. She suggested betting on tennis could be a factor, saying the sport offers wagers on many aspects of play.

A report by the WTA and World Tennis, based on data from the Signify Group’s Threat Matrix service, said angry gamblers were responsible for 42% of verified online abuse detected during the 2025 season.

Burrage said platforms should do more and proposed requiring identification for Instagram accounts, arguing that this could make users more accountable. The WTA and World Tennis provide players with access to Threat Matrix, which monitors posts directed at them and can assess potential threats, alert platforms and, where appropriate, law enforcement. The service can also share names with gaming companies and help moderate accounts, though the BBC reported that it is not foolproof.

Burrage has returned to singles after nine months out with injury and says she is focused on preparing for a strong 2027 season. Her ranking has risen to 474 from a low of 888 in July.