You don't really need a clutch derailleur on a 1x road setup unless you're sporting a bigger road cassette. On one of my road bikes I used a 44t + 11-32t cassette on a 105 R7000 RD with no drop chain issues. I live in a hilly area and it was easy to climb with this setup. If I lived in the flats, I would have definitely gone with a 50t or bigger. Also using something like a 1x Pass Quest aero chainring has beefy chainring teeth. Just make sure to size your chain properly so it's fitted properly.
If you're used to rolling with a 52/17, something like a 52/11-28 or 11-32t will seem easy for you. If you want a lightweight, affordable 1x groupset option, I'd get an Ultegra RD, Sensah HRD hydraulic Team Pro carbon shifters (11 or 12 speed), a RiRo/Racework carbon crankset (the new version) and a Pass Quest aero chainring. I'd stick to an Ultegra cassette and chain if possible for best shifting.