Be enough for top player to become exhausted (3,2,4)
I believe the answer is:
run to seed
'become exhausted' is the definition.
(a flower that's run to seed has been exhausted)
'be enough for top player' is the wordplay.
'be enough for' becomes 'run to' (run to can mean to be sufficient for).
'top player' becomes 'seed' (eg a seeded tennis player).
'runto'+'seed'='RUN TO SEED'
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for run to seed that I've seen before include "Manage to consult foremost of doctors" , "Lose vigour" , "exhausted" , "Get shabby" , "Tennis fan after prized autograph may" .)