Rafael Nadal, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula are among tennis players paying tribute to Howard Fendrich, the longtime Associated Press (AP) tennis writer, a day after his death. The tributes come as the sport marks the loss of a veteran journalist who covered tennis for decades through AP, with players and others in the tennis community acknowledging his impact on the game and on sports reporting. Reports describe Fendrich as a long-serving figure in tennis media and note that fellow players used public statements and social media to recognize his work. The acknowledgements reflect the breadth of his reach across the sport, with top current players joining tributes alongside the broader media community. While specific details of his death are not provided in the sources summarized here, the reporting consistently places the focus on the immediate response from leading players and the confirmation that tributes are being made in the day following his passing.