Howard Fendrich, a distinguished national sports writer for The Associated Press whose meticulous reporting and vivid storytelling brought readers into the heart of Grand Slam tennis finals, Olympic milestones, and Alpine ski descents, has passed away at the age of 55.
Fendrich died on Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, as confirmed by his wife, Rosanna Maietta. He was diagnosed with cancer in February, shortly after returning from Milan, where he covered his 11th Olympic Games.
Tennis legend Roger Federer, who estimated he had over 100 interactions with Fendrich over the years, described the journalist as "one of those constant and reassuring presences in the tennis world for many years." Federer added, "He started covering tennis in 2002, around the time I was beginning my breakthrough in the sport, and over time he became part of the fabric of tennis. Tennis has lost a wonderful journalist and a great person."
Billie Jean King posted on social media: "Howard Fendrich was one of the great sports storytellers. He will be missed." Fendrich is survived by his wife; his mother, Renée; his brother, Alex; and two sons, Stefano and Jordan, both pursuing careers in sports journalism, following in their father's footsteps.
"Howard was a gifted journalist who brought skill, expertise, and enthusiasm to his work," said AP Executive Editor and Senior Vice President Julie Pace. "His stories were a joy to read, combining lively writing with insightful reporting. He was also a generous and beloved colleague whose warmth and passion touched many across the AP."
A Career Spanning Three Decades at AP
A graduate of Haverford College near Philadelphia, Fendrich worked at AP for 33 years, starting as an unpaid intern in Rome. There, he became fluent in Italian, largely by watching karaoke videos, which helped him gain a foothold in the agency's European sports coverage, focusing on football. This led to recognition from then-AP sports editor Terry R. Taylor, who facilitated his return to the United States.
In the U.S., Fendrich began as an editor on the AP sports desk in New York, where he also wrote a sports media column. He moved to the Washington area in 2005, becoming a steady presence on sports beats in the region where he grew up. However, his true passion was tennis. He chronicled the careers of Venus and Serena Williams, Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and others, covering approximately 70 Grand Slam tournaments over nearly a quarter of a century.
Fendrich's writing accolades included two Grimsley Awards for best overall body of work among AP sports writers and several deadline-writing citations. One notable piece from Andre Agassi's final match at the 2006 U.S. Open read: "Crouched alone in the silence of the locker room, a pro tennis player no more, a red-eyed Andre Agassi twisted his torso in an attempt to conquer the seemingly mundane task of pulling a white shirt over his head. Never more than at that moment did Agassi seem so vulnerable, looking far older than his 36 years."
This passage exemplified Fendrich's talent for observing, re-observing, taking notes, and meticulously sifting through details to reveal what others might miss. He captured Federer's emotional meeting with Bjorn Borg after a historic Wimbledon win and detailed the gritty realities of playing on red clay at Roland Garros, including the post-match cleanup. At his final major assignment in Milan, he followed speedskater Jutta Leerdam's fiancé, fighter Jake Paul, down a hallway to secure a quote. After obtaining it, Paul declared, "OK, we're done," and bodyguards moved in. Fendrich later remarked at dinner, "I decided, 'Yes, I guess we are.'"
An Unerring Instinct for News
Fendrich had a knack for knowing where to go, whom to ask, and what to ask. During the 2011 NFL labor lockout, he spent days on a folding chair on a Washington sidewalk, laptop on his lap, waiting for principals to emerge from tense negotiations. Though not an "NFL insider," he worked the room, the phones, and the sidewalk, helping AP stay competitive in delivering developments and detailing the standoff's end.
"There was that doggedness," said Mary Byrne, AP's deputy sports editor at the time. "He was annoyed by the time spent waiting, but he wasn't going to let the situation get the best of him, and he wasn't going to get beaten on the story." When Washington quarterback Alex Smith suffered a gruesome leg fracture in 2018, Fendrich immediately contacted retired star Joe Theismann for insight.
Sometimes, even during a World Series game, Fendrich would answer his phone. If he started speaking Italian, it was likely his wife, Rosanna. Or his children would call with school questions or stories from soccer games. For them, he had endless patience. Then, he would return to work without missing a beat.
"Nothing got past him," said Stephen Wilson, AP's former European sports editor and a colleague for over 20 years. "Every story, even a three-paragraph brief, had to be ironclad."
Fendrich also possessed a sharp sense of humor. Colleagues could not refuse when he raised his eyebrows and motioned toward the door, inviting them to his "office"—a quiet courtyard or hallway—to discuss coverage plans or share observations. Chris Lehourites, an AP editor who guided tennis coverage in Europe, spent many days perfecting punctuation and word choice with Fendrich, whom he called a "perfectionist." Lehourites added, "Howard was also a friend whose dry humor and bags of Blow Pop lollipops made long days go by quickly."
