He's a smashing sporting legend (4)

I believe the answer is:

ashe

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'sporting legend' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.

'he's a smashing' is the wordplay.
'smashing' is an anagram indicator.
'hes'+'a'='hesa'
'hesa' anagrammed gives 'ASHE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ashe that I've seen before include "Arthur, who came to court" , "Sporting champion once" , "US court star" , "Arthur, first black Wimbledon men's singles champion, 1975" , "US tennis player Arthur, 1975 Wimbledon champion" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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