In which a player has to leap madly? (6)

I believe the answer is:

pelota

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'in which a player' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I don't understand how they can define each other.

'to leap madly?' is the wordplay.
'madly?' indicates an anagram (I've seen 'madly' mean this).
'to'+'leap'='toleap'
'toleap' is an anagram of 'PELOTA'.

'has' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pelota that I've seen before include "SPORT/GAME" , "Spanish game played with a ball and wickerwork racket" , "Spanish game at Opel" , "Basque ball game" , "Basque ball-game" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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