THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 16, 2023

Clervie Ngounoue

Press Conference

C. NGOUNOUE/N. Bartunkova

6-2, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Clervie Ngounoue, the Wimbledon girls champion.

Wimbledon champion. How does that sound?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: It sounds unbelievable. I'm sorry, I'm still scanning the room (smiling).

It sounds so good. I'm really excited that this is my first. It was a battle out there, as I was expecting one. Nikola is not an easy player at all. That's the third time we've played, I believe, so it could have gone either way, as all the other times.

But I'm really glad that I was able to pull through this time.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How did you feel about not playing on Court 1?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: I was actually bummed. I was trying not to complain about it. I wanted to play on Court 1.

We were on another big court. I know Novak and Carlos were also starting, so I wasn't surprised that there wasn't that many people. So I can't really say that if we were on Court 1, it would have been any different.

I don't know how the boys match went, but it was still special.

Q. How do you see your game on grass, considering this is your first Grand Slam singles title? Would you say your game is suited to grass court tennis?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: I would say over the course of the last two weeks, it has progressed to be more well-suited for the grass. I mean, people have told me before, You know, your game should be so good for grass, you should love it. I just didn't love it. I didn't understand that.

But I think people look at kind of like the outward what you see, like, just game styles. But in terms of how people feel physically, I did not feel good on grass at all. Even now, it's so interesting with the wind and adjusting accordingly.

But I'm really glad that I was able to adapt. Now I can actually confidently say that I feel like I am well-suited for grass.

Q. You didn't drop a set all tournament. What was your mindset coming in? Were you zoned in on getting the title at the end?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: Yeah, my brother actually just told me that, that I didn't drop a set.

I really think I was just focused on myself and trying to progress as a tennis player, knowing that this is not, like, the end, that this is only a part of the journey. This is to set me up for more.

I think all of us juniors at these tournaments, these prestigious tournaments, are such good opportunities not only for recognition but us personally as tennis players to progress. It's all to progress. It's all a part of the journey.

Really, I think it was a confidence thing for me, just try to focus on the next match, the next point, the next set, whatever was coming, trying not to look ahead of myself. But it was just really trusting myself and whatever I learned recently.

Q. You've shown a lot of variety today. Was that a strategy? You seem to be committed to your slice, doing different things, not giving her a rhythm.

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: I would say I have a lot of variety in my game. I think sometimes when I just remember that I have a lot of variety (smiling).

But today was one of those days similar to yesterday. It was windy. It wasn't the best conditions. Not the most ideal just conditions you like to play in. I just tried not to play perfect. I mean, tried to remember to use everything that I have.

Q. The lob winner, does that stick out?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: That was quite nice. I did that yesterday, too. I was very happy that I was able to make it.

Q. You won the girls doubles at Roland Garros. Now you won the singles here. How do you feel going into the hard court season? Do you feel excited? Have you even thought about it?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: I'm always looking forward to hard court season. Whether that's winning or losing, I prefer just practicing and training on hard court.

Whatever comes comes, but I'm ready to go back on the hard court. I'll just say that. But it's been an eventful last couple months preparing for the red clay and moving to the grass, having my first normal Wimbledon experience here.

I'm ready for that, ready for the Open, I guess, yeah.

Q. How long have you been at USTA now? Has it been about a year?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: I've been going back to USTA since it opened. I just moved there last year. But I've been going back and forth, working with Jermaine actually for quite a while. But yeah...

Q. You do consider that your home now?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: Yeah, I do not live in Washington, D.C. I live in Orlando, Florida now.

Q. Your relationship with Jermaine, how has it been working with him?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: Yeah, Jermaine is great. It's such a good experience working with someone who has been, like, at the pro level working with professional tennis players. It's nice to just pick at his brain, to hear stories, just experiences that he's had on tour. To take that with me, it's kind of like having that in my back pocket.

Yeah, no, we've been getting along quite well. I love working with him. I love annoying him. I'm looking forward to more of those experiences.

Q. Is San Diego next for you?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: I am playing a 25K at Roehampton next week or this coming week.

Q. Have you had any congratulatory messages within American tennis? How do you plan to celebrate?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: Yeah, I actually haven't opened my phone. I try to just center myself before getting into it.

On my screen, because I put my phone on 'do not disturb' because I never know what's going to interrupt, but I saw Tyra Grant and Kaylan Bigun texted me. I haven't opened any apps on my phone yet, so I have yet to do that.

Q. Besides the piercings, any other way to celebrate your birthday and a win?

CLERVIE NGOUNOUE: You have rings on your finger, and my agent knows I want rings. That was also another thing on my list.

Probably just have a scone with jam and butter, yeah.