Clervie Ngounoue of the United States has surged into the Top 10 of the ITF World Tennis Tour Junior Rankings following back-to-back junior titles at J300 Indian Wells and J300 San Diego this month. But who is Clervie Ngounoue?

The 16-year-old is a player who has flickered consistently on the ITF radar in recent years. For those who are yet to come across her, here are five things to know about this prodigiously talented teenager.

• Born in Washington D.C. to Cameroonian parents, Ngounoue came to the attention of the junior world at the 2019 ITF World Junior Tennis Finals – the premier global team competition for players aged 14 and under – in Prostejov, Czech Republic. Her aggressive and powerful stroke play was in evidence as she helped USA to the final where they succumbed to a Fruhvirtova-inspired (Linda and Brenda, together with Nikola Bartunkova) Czech Republic. Her showing in Prostejov drew comparisons in some circles to another teenage sensation, Coco Gauff.
  
  
• Success in national team colours would not elude Ngounoue and her prowess was again on show as the United States conquered all before them at the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup Juniors by Gainbridge Finals in Antalya, Türkiye. The 16-year-old's influence increased as the tournament progressed, while her off-court personality shone during an exhilarating week. Ngounoue’s exploits and those of the United States at the Finals are documented in an ITF-produced behind-the-scenes video. Watch here.
  
  
• While yet to claim her first professional singles title – she reached the final of two ITF World Tennis Tour events during 2022 – Ngounoue, who trains at the Mouratoglou Tennis Academy, has topped the podium twice in doubles. She claimed ITF World Tennis Tour doubles silverware alongside Belgium’s Hanne Vandewinkel at W15 Monastir in February 2022 and fellow American Maria Mateas at W25 Spring, Texas earlier this month.
  
  
• Despite her age, Ngounoue has Grand Slam pedigree. While aged just 15 and having contested just three previous professional events, Ngounoue received a wild card into US Open qualifying in 2021. Although she succumbed to Egypt’s Mayar Sherif in straight sets in the first round of qualifying, the experience will undoubtedly have proven valuable. A matter of months later, Ngounoue lifted silverware in the girls’ doubles alongside Diana Shnaider at the 2022 Australian Open.
  
  
• Although Ngounoue has won eight (two professional and six junior) doubles titles during her career, it would be wrong to think she has not thrived in singles because she most certainly has. As well as her dazzling form during ITF team competitions, Ngounoue claimed the biggest title of her career at J500 Merida in November 2022. Aside from Junior Grand Slams, J500 tournaments are the highest classification of event on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors. In total, she has won 30 of her last 32 singles matches and now stands at a career-high No. 7 in the junior world rankings. 

Incidentally, Ngounoue’s younger brother Carel, 14, is a highly-rated junior player, while her elder sister Malkia plays on the ITF World Tennis Tour. A sporting family indeed. Follow Clervie's progress here.