Crossword Genius

Shrewder retaining ball, male player (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

womaniser

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'player' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?

'shrewder retaining ball male' is the wordplay.
'shrewder' becomes 'wiser' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'retaining' indicates putting letters inside (inserted letters are held or retained).
'ball' becomes 'o' (O looks like a ball).
'male' becomes 'man' (man is a kind of male).
'o'+'man'='oman'
'wiser' going around 'oman' is 'WOMANISER'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for womaniser that I've seen before include "Lady-killer" , "Don Juan" , "Lothario" , "Man amorously pursuing females" , "A rake" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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