Howard Fendrich
Howard Fendrich (1970 or 1971 – May 21, 2026) was an American journalist from Washington DC. He was an award winning sports writer with the wire service, Associated Press for many years. His wife Rosanna Maietta said that he died of cancer at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He is survived by his wife, his mother Renée, his brother Alex, and two sons, Stefano and Jordan, both sports journalists.[1]
Fendrich covered tennis regularly from 2002 including 11 Olympic Games and Grand Slam tournaments. He also served as co-president of the International Tennis Writers Association (ITWA).[2][3] Many present and former tennis stars, including Roger Federer, Billie Jean King, Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula, condoled his death.[4][1] Commentator Patrick McEnroe also offered his condolences.[5]
He was a graduate of Haverford College, near Philadelphia. Fendrich worked at AP for 33 years, starting as an unpaid intern in Rome. He started the AP's New York sports desk and moved to the Washigton DC area in 2005.[6]
Fendrich died from cancer on May 21, 2026, at the age of 55.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Pells, Eddie (May 21, 2026). "Howard Fendrich, award-winning AP national sports writer and tennis expert, dies at 55". AP News. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ^ "WTA mourns the passing of longtime tennis writer Howard Fendrich". Women's Tennis Association. May 21, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ^ Holleran, Andrew (May 21, 2026). "Beloved U.S. Sports Writer Howard Fendrich Dead at 55". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ^ "Nadal, Gauff and Pegula pay tribute to AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ^ "Federer leads tributes as tennis world mourns 'wonderful journalist'". 7NEWS. May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.
- ^ a b "Fendrich, award-winning AP sports writer, tennis expert, dies". www.espn.in. May 22, 2026. Retrieved May 24, 2026.