By Sohaib Shams
British tennis player Jodie Burrage has received support from WTA staff at the Chennai Open after being targeted with death threats on social media following her first-round singles loss.
Abuse follows return to tour
Burrage, 27, lost 3-6 6-3 7-5 to India's Vaishnavi Adkar on Tuesday in her first WTA Tour singles main-draw match in 16 months. After the defeat, she was bombarded with abusive direct messages, including death threats. Burrage shared screenshots on Instagram, writing: "Nice welcome back to tour. I remember why I left." She tagged the WTA, asking when action would be taken.
WTA responds with player welfare measures
The WTA said protecting players from online threats is a key priority. Staff on the ground in Chennai are offering Burrage support, alongside the organization's player welfare and Threat Matrix teams. The Threat Matrix system, launched in 2023 with Signify Group and World Tennis, uses AI to identify accounts behind threats, enabling investigations and potential legal action. The WTA also provides a private channel to report abusive direct messages and moderation that hides abusive comments before players see them.
Gambling-linked abuse remains prevalent
Data from Signify shows that angry gamblers accounted for 48% of abusive posts in 2024, 42% of verified abuse in 2025, and 59% of serious abuse cases. The WTA is working with gambling companies to flag abuse from gamblers in real time, allowing operators to restrict or suspend accounts.
Calls for stronger action
Mhairi Maclennan, chief executive of Kyniska Advocacy, which supports female athletes, said there is "still not enough being done" to protect athletes. She told BBC Radio 5 Live that abuse, including death and rape threats, is common for athletes with public profiles, especially in sports tied to betting. Maclennan urged a healthier relationship between sports and betting agencies to safeguard athlete welfare.
