Stefan Edberg and Martina Navratilova will be presented with the ‘Golden Racquet’ in a special ceremony at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Sunday.

The ‘Golden Racquet’ is a prestigious award which is presented annually at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia to a male and a female great of the game.

Edberg is receiving the award on May 12. The Swede, a former ATP World No.1, won 41 singles, 18 doubles pro titles and $20,630,941 in prize money. He had an 806-270 (.749) singles mark.

Clay has never been his favorite surface, although he nearly beat Michael Chang in the 1989 Roland Garros final. In 1983 he became the lone achiever of a junior Grand Slam. Then, as a pro, he conquered six major singles – two each, Australian (1985, ’87), Wimbledon (1988, ’90), U.S. Open (1991, ’92).

Martina Navratilova will receive the Golden Racquet before the women’s final. In the 50th anniversary of the WTA, it’s a way to celebrate a global icon of our sport. Since 1968 when the Open Era began, no male or female player won more singles tournaments(167), doubles events (177), or matches (2.189). Defeated just 219 times in singles in her career, Navratilova managed to clinch her latest major title in 2006, a month away from her 50th birthday, when she won the mixed doubles championship at the US Open, becoming the oldest player in history to win a Grand Slam event.