On Tuesday, Boulter provided BBC Sport unprecedented insight into the volume and nature of abuse received by players, including sharing screenshots of her private inbox.
“I think it just kind of shows how vulnerable we are,” the 28-year-old said. “You really don’t know if this person is on site. You really don’t know if they’re nearby or if they know where you live or anything like that.”
There were also threats against her whole family.
Figures provided by data science firm Signify, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), show that in 2024, about 8,000 abusive, violent or threatening messages were sent publicly to 458 tennis players through their social media accounts.
England forward Lauren James said “the abuse never really stops”.
“Sometimes it’s not even to do with my performance, even when someone loses at Fifa [computer game], my card scores against them and they’re sending me abuse.
“I guess when it’s your first time though, maybe it might touch someone, but I’m used to it. I’m going to just brush it off my shoulder.”
Starmer added: “I would also say to everyone out there they need our support not our abuse, they deserve our support, not abuse and they’ve earned our support, not abuse.
“So come on if you’re into football if you want to back this team get behind them and actually back them.”
Starmer was at St George’s Park to announce a new School Sport Partnerships and Enrichment Framework for schools to ensure all young people have equal access to high-quality sport and extracurricular activity.
Under the new framework, girls will be given the same opportunities as boys to play sport at school.
