Nepotist botched big court opportunity (3,5)
I believe the answer is:
set point
'big court opportunity' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how they can define each other.
'nepotist botched' is the wordplay.
'botched' indicates an anagram.
'nepotist' with letters rearranged gives 'SET POINT'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for set point that I've seen before include "Close to victory here" , "ready to engrave one name into trophy?" , "one crucial to serve" , "Final score needed to win a tennis division" , "5-4, 40-30, for example" .)