Tennis player gaining recognition after false starts (4)
I believe the answer is:
graf
'tennis player' is the definition.
(graf was a tennis player)
'gaining recognition after false starts' is the wordplay.
'starts' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'gaining recognition after false' is 'GRAF'.
(Other definitions for graf that I've seen before include "German tennis player, b. 1969" , "Steffi --, tennis player" , "Noted tennis player" , "Steffi --, tennis champion" , "Seven-times women's Wimbledon champion, b. 1969" .)