Overview
- Howard Fendrich died May 21, 2026 at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore after a cancer diagnosis first made in February, his wife Rosanna Maietta and AP confirmed.
- Fendrich spent 33 years at The Associated Press, became the lead national tennis reporter around 2002, and covered roughly 70 Grand Slams and 11 Olympic Games.
- Players including Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula along with peers and organizations sent immediate tributes that were noted publicly during the opening days at Roland Garros.
- Colleagues and AP leaders praised his detail-rich, persistent reporting style, his trust with players and his two Grimsley Awards for outstanding sports writing.
- He is survived by his wife Rosanna Maietta, his mother Renée, his brother Alex, and two sons, Stefano and Jordan, and his loss has left a palpable gap in press rooms worldwide.