Trending Now - Beloved Sports Journalist Howard Fendrich Passes Away at 55

WHO:

ABC News - Howard Fendrich, award-winning national sports writer for The Associated Press, died at 55.

ABC News - Fendrich's wife is Rosanna Maietta.

ABC News - Tennis great Roger Federer described Fendrich as “one of those constant and reassuring presences in the tennis world for many years.”

ABC News - Billie Jean King posted on social media about Fendrich, calling him “one of the great sports storytellers.”

ABC News - AP Executive Editor and Senior Vice President Julie Pace praised Fendrich as a “gifted journalist.”

ABC News - Fendrich is survived by his wife, mother Renée, brother Alex, and two sons, Stefano and Jordan.

WHAT:

ABC News - Fendrich died at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

ABC News - He was diagnosed with cancer in February shortly after covering his 11th Olympics.

ABC News - Fendrich covered approximately 70 Grand Slam tournaments over nearly 25 years.

ABC News - He received two Grimsley Awards for best overall body of work among AP sports writers and several deadline-writing citations.

ABC News - Fendrich wrote a notable piece on Andre Agassi’s last match at the 2006 U.S. Open.

WHERE:

ABC News - Fendrich died in Baltimore, Maryland.

ABC News - He worked at The Associated Press for 33 years, starting in Rome and later moving to New York and Washington, D.C.

WHEN:

ABC News - Fendrich started covering tennis in 2002.

ABC News - He covered his last major assignment at the Olympics in Milan.

WHY:

ABC News - Fendrich's passion for tennis drove his career, chronicling the careers of notable players like Venus and Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.

HOW:

ABC News - Fendrich became fluent in Italian by watching karaoke videos, which helped him in his early career at AP.

ABC News - He was known for his detailed reporting and ability to capture moments that others might overlook, such as the emotional aspects of sports events.

(UPDATED May 22, 2026 08:08 UTC)

Award-winning national sports writer Howard Fendrich, known for his extensive coverage of tennis, has passed away at the age of 55 after battling cancer, which he was diagnosed with in February. Fendrich, who worked at The Associated Press for 33 years, covered around 70 Grand Slam tournaments and was celebrated for his storytelling, earning accolades including two Grimsley Awards. He is survived by his wife Rosanna Maietta, his mother Renée, his brother Alex, and his two sons, Stefano and Jordan, leaving behind a legacy that resonated with many in the sports community, including tributes from tennis legends like Roger Federer and Billie Jean King.