Simona Halep believes she well and truly belongs in the WTA's top 10 as her bid to win a maiden grand slam and the US Open remained on track.

World number two Halep continued her run at Flushing Meadows with a 6-3 6-4 victory against Kateryna Bondarenko in the second round on Thursday.

Halep - just one win away from equalling her best performance at Flushing Meadows having made the fourth round in 2013 - is flying high this year with three titles under her belt and a 42-11 win-loss record.

And the 23-year-old Romanian feels comfortable with her standing in the women's game, after breaking into the top 10 in January last year.

"I have already two years or one year and a half here in top 10," said Halep, whose best performance at a grand slam so far is her appearance in the 2014 Wimbledon final.

"I feel like I'm a normal player. In my mind I don't have that I'm number two or number five or number six. So doesn't matter at all. But it's good to feel yourself strong, that you are there in the top.

"You are second in the world, so means a lot for me. But still I'm used now to be here. It's not something new anymore.

"I feel the pressure at every tournament, like everybody has expectations from me, my team, my close people. But still now I'm okay.

"I'm much better than few months ago. It's good to be in the top and I hope to stay here as long as I can."