Crossword Genius

Compete with a backward girl for a place (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

vienna

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'a place' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both locations as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'compete with a backward girl' is the wordplay.
'compete with' becomes 'vie' (to vie with someone is to compete with them).
'a backward' says the letters should be written backwards.
'girl' becomes 'ann' (woman's name).
'ann' in reverse letter order is 'nna'.
'vie'+'nna'='VIENNA'

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for vienna that I've seen before include "Wien" , "Capital on the Danube Canal" , "European city for New Year's Day concert" , "Austria's capital city" , "Capital city on the Danube" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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