Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula were among the players paying tribute to Howard Fendrich, the longtime Associated Press tennis writer, as competitors gathered at Roland Garros for a French Open now missing one of the sport's most respected journalists.
Fendrich's Legacy in Tennis Journalism
Fendrich, a regular at Roland Garros and all tennis majors since 2002, died Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, less than three months after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 55. The news prompted an outpouring of tributes on social media, including a Friday morning post from Nadal, whose record 14 French Open victories were chronicled in rich detail by Fendrich.
"Tennis loses one of its great journalists," Nadal said.
Gauff and Pegula Remember Fendrich
Gauff, who won her second major singles championship at Roland Garros last year, opened her pre-tournament news conference with a shout-out to Fendrich. "I just wanted to start this off recognizing a deep loss that I think we all have experienced as a community with Howard," Gauff said. "He was someone I always enjoyed having conversations with. One of my favorite faces to see in the room."
The Women's Tennis Association wrote a tribute, recalling that "His classic opening before a question, 'soooo, I'm curious ...' always set a comfortable tone of kindness in interviews."
Fifth-ranked Pegula, a member of the WTA Players' Council, sent her condolences. "Howard was one of the most respected journalists in our sport and someone players trusted because he always approached his work with honesty, professionalism and fairness," she said.
Broader Tributes from the Sports World
Roger Federer, Billie Jean King, and Patrick McEnroe, a former player and president of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, were among those who honored Fendrich on Thursday. Tributes also came from press box colleagues, including Washington-based Adam Kilgore, who called him "the best person to see at a game, in a press room, at a dinner after an event."
Fendrich, based in Washington, was a regular in press boxes for Commanders, Nationals, and Capitals games. The Nationals said, "His contributions to and impact on sports journalism extend far beyond that of the Nationals press box. He will be dearly missed." The Commanders and Capitals also extended their condolences.
Fendrich is survived by his wife, Rosanna Maietta; his mother, Renée; his brother, Alex; and two sons, Stefano and Jordan.
