HOWARD FENDRICH

National writer

Fendrich is an Associated Press national writer based in Washington, D.C. He reports on tennis and other sports.

View of Guillermo Vilas Stadium during a semifinal match at the Argentina Open tennis tournament in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello, File)

Novak Djokovic’s players’ association sued the groups that run tennis. Why and what do they want?

Canada's Vasek Pospisil and Serbia's Novak Djokovic talk tactics during their double match against during their Round of 32 match at the Adelaide International Tennis tournament in Adelaide, Australia, Jan. 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Kelly Barnes, File)

Players’ group founded by Novak Djokovic files an antitrust suit against tennis organizers

Iga Swiatek, of Poland, gestures while talking with the chair umpire as she plays against Mirra Andreeva, of Russia, during the semifinals at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Friday, March 14, 2025, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Iga Swiatek discusses nearly hitting a ball boy and three weeks she spent crying daily last year

Coco Gauff of the United States returns a shot to Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine during the women's singles quarterfinals match of the China Open tennis tournament, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim, file)

Coco Gauff heads home to the Miami Open after her 21st birthday and a bit of a rough patch

Sports writer and author John Feinstein poses in Washington, Feb. 28, 2006. (AP Photo Caleb Jones, file)

John Feinstein, bestselling author and one of the country’s foremost sports writers, dies at 69

Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic reacts during her first round match against Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, July 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, file)

Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova says she is taking time off because of her shoulder

Serena Williams, of the United States, talks with her daughter Olympia and husband Alexis Ohanian after defeating Danka Kovinic, of Montenegro, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships, Aug. 29, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Women’s tennis players now are eligible for paid maternity leave financed by Saudi fund

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Kyle Finnegan delivers during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sept. 14, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

Kyle Finnegan agrees to a $6M, 1-year deal to return to the Washington Nationals, AP sources say

Jannik Sinner of Italy celebrates after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Jannik Sinner is out of a Las Vegas exhibition because of his doping ban. Casper Ruud will fill in

A tennis player was cleared of doping after blaming a positive test on contaminated Colombian meat

People walk through the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center during the U.S. Open tennis championships, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, File)

Tennis participation grows to more than 25M players in the US even as pickleball’s popularity surges

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, right, greets Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris, left, after an NFL football game Dec. 16, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker, File)

11 NFL teams have never had a Black head coach. Players find that disappointing

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, right, talks with defensive end Cameron Heyward (97) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Dec. 2, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Players think 1st-time NFL head coaches who are Black feel extra pressure to succeed

Romania's Simona Halep throws her racket into the tribune after announcing her retirement from professional tennis following a defeat at the Transylvania Open women's tennis tournament, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Cluj, Romania. (Mihaela-Ionela Bobar/Action Foto Romania via AP)

Simona Halep announces her retirement at age 33 after two Grand Slam titles and a return from a ban

Pam Shriver is seen ahead of the women's singles match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Thursday, July 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)

Tennis Hall of Famer Pam Shriver’s trophies are back after being taken in stolen car amid LA fires

FILE- Banners are displayed on the grounds of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

The US Open tennis tournament is adding a 15th day by moving to a Sunday start in 2025

Jannik Sinner of Italy holds the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup aloft after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner’s style draws comparisons to Novak Djokovic

Alexander Zverev of Germany attends a press conference after his loss to Jannik Sinner of Italy following the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Australian Open: Alexander Zverev loses a third Grand Slam final, this time to Jannik Sinner

Madison Keys of the U.S. kisses the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Be brave. That’s what Madison Keys kept telling herself on the way to winning the Australian Open

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during a press conference after defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in the men's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Jannik Sinner beats Alexander Zverev in 3 sets for his second Australian Open title in a row

Madison Keys of the U.S. reacts during a press conference after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship to win the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Australian Open champion Madison Keys credits therapy with helping her off a tennis court and on

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus throws her racker after losing the women's singles final against Madison Keys of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Aryna Sabalenka throws her racket after losing to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final

Jannik Sinner of Italy reacts during his semifinal match against Ben Shelton of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Defending champion Jannik Sinner plays Alexander Zverev in the men’s Australian Open final

Madison Keys of the U.S. speaks during a press conference after defeating Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the women's singles final at the Australian Open tennis championship to win the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup, in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Australian Open: Keys upsets 2-time champion Sabalenka in women’s final for 1st Grand Slam title

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts at a press conference after retiring in his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Novak Djokovic vows to strive for more Grand Slam titles at age 37 after his latest injury

Jannik Sinner of Italy receives medical treatment during his semifinal match against Ben Shelton of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Jannik Sinner beats Ben Shelton to return to the Australian Open final

Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Australian Open: Madison Keys can win her first Slam title and stop Aryna Sabalenka’s threepeat

Alexander Zverev, right, of Germany embraces Novak Djokovic of Serbia after Djokovic retired in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Djokovic quits mid-match and walks off to boos, putting Zverev in Australian Open final vs. Sinner

Danielle Collins of the U.S. reacts after defeating Destanee Aiava of Australia in their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup, File)

Australian Open: Did the Happy Slam become the Angry Slam? Or is tennis just changing?

Madison Keys of the U.S. celebrates after defeating Iga Swiatek of Poland in their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

Australian Open: Madison Keys upsets Iga Swiatek and will face Aryna Sabalenka in the final