Top-ranked player inspiring great admiration? Laver, perhaps (7)
I believe the answer is:
seaweed
'laver perhaps' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'top-ranked player inspiring great admiration?' is the wordplay.
'top-ranked player' becomes 'seed' (eg seeds in tennis).
'inspiring' indicates putting letters inside.
'great admiration?' becomes 'awe' (awe can mean a feeling of admiration).
'seed' enclosing 'awe' is 'SEAWEED'.
(Other definitions for seaweed that I've seen before include "Marine algae" , "what's been washed up" , "What may be cast up on shore" , "Tangle" , "Marine growth" .)