Crossword Genius

One of the first to take a knock (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

opener

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'a knock' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to natural events as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'one of the first to take' is the wordplay.
'one of' becomes 'o'.
'the first to' becomes 'pene' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'take' becomes 'r' (abbreviation for 'recipe', Latin for 'take').
'o'+'pene'+'r'='OPENER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for opener that I've seen before include "Tool for taking lid off a can" , "First goal in game" , "First in batting order" , "Kitchen item" , "First act" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.
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