Crossword Genius

Wide boy in poem always after tennis equipment (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

racketeer

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'wide boy' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'always after tennis equipment' is the wordplay.
'always' becomes 'eer' (poetic way of saying ever).
'after' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'tennis equipment' becomes 'racket' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'eer' put after 'racket' is 'RACKETEER'.

'in poem' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for racketeer that I've seen before include "Crook" , "fraudster" , "Wide boy" , "dishonest dealer" , "Capone, for one" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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