British tennis player Jodie Burrage has revealed she has been subjected to death threats on social media after her return to the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour.
Burrage, ranked World No. 474, shared screenshots of abusive direct messages on her Instagram story following her first-round defeat to India's Vaishnavi Adkar at the Chennai Open. Despite winning the first set, Burrage ultimately lost the match 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. This was her first WTA Tour match since July 2025, excluding qualifiers.
"Nice welcome back to tour. I remember why I left. When will something be done?" Burrage captioned one of her Instagram stories, tagging both the WTA and Instagram. The messages included hateful comments such as "Hope you go home and kill yourself" and "Die n riot on the streets."
This incident echoes a similar experience by fellow British tennis player Katie Boulter, who spoke out about receiving death threats on social media after a match at the 2025 French Open. Boulter shared screenshots of messages that included threats like "Hope you get cancer" and references to harming her family.
Burrage's revelation highlights a persistent issue of online abuse faced by athletes, particularly after disappointing performances or unexpected defeats. The WTA and social media platforms have faced pressure to address such harassment more effectively.