Even the best can be whipped! (3)
I believe the answer is:
top
'even' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'the best can be whipped' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is present in the answer.
The remaining letters 'op' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for top that I've seen before include "Summit or spinning toy" , "Peak; beat" , "Uppermost part" , "The circus tent can be a big one" , "SECOND PART OF 10 ACROSS" .)