Howard Fendrich, the celebrated Associated Press sports writer renowned for his coverage of tennis and the Olympic Games, has passed away at the age of 55. He died on Thursday at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, according to his wife, Rosanna Maietta. Fendrich had been diagnosed with cancer in February, shortly after returning from his 11th Olympic Games in Milan.
A Legacy in Sports Journalism
Fendrich spent 33 years at the Associated Press, beginning his career as an unpaid intern in Rome. There, he mastered Italian by watching karaoke videos, which helped him secure a role covering European sports, particularly soccer. His talent caught the attention of then-AP sports editor Terry R. Taylor, who facilitated his return to the United States. Fendrich initially worked as an editor on the AP sports desk in New York, where he also penned a sports media column. In 2005, he relocated to the Washington area, becoming a familiar presence on regional sports beats.
Tennis: His True Passion
Fendrich's true passion was tennis. He chronicled the careers of legends such as Venus and Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. Over nearly a quarter of a century, he covered approximately 70 Grand Slam tournaments. His writing earned him two Grimsley Awards for best overall body of work among AP sports writers and several deadline-writing citations. One notable piece described Andre Agassi's final match at the 2006 U.S. Open, capturing the emotional moment with poignant detail: '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.'
Roger Federer, who estimated he had over 100 interactions with Fendrich, paid tribute: 'He started covering tennis in 2002, right around the time I was starting to have my breakthrough in the sport, and over time he truly became part of the fabric of tennis. Tennis lost a wonderful journalist and a great person.'
Beyond the Court
Fendrich's reporting extended beyond tennis. He covered the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, and his final assignment was the Milan Games, where he pursued fighter Jake Paul for a quote, demonstrating his relentless dedication to storytelling. AP Executive Editor Julie Pace praised him: 'Howard was a gifted journalist who brought such skill, expertise and enthusiasm to his work. His stories were a joy to read, combining lively writing with insightful reporting.'
Fendrich is survived by his wife Rosanna; his mother Renée; his brother Alex; and his two sons, Stefano and Jordan, both pursuing careers in sports journalism. Chris Lehourites, an AP editor, remembered him as a 'perfectionist' and a friend whose dry humor and bags of Blow Pop lollipops made long days enjoyable.
