Simona Halep has comfortably grabbed a place in the third round of the US Open following a 6-3 6-4 victory over Kateryna Bondarenko at Flushing Meadows.

Halep struck early in the first set as she eased to a break point at the first time of asking, but Bondarenko showed some fight to break back in her second attempt.

It did not worry Halep though, as the second seed, who is yet to win a Grand-Slam title, broke again and eventually eased her way into a one-set lead.

Bondarenko kept composure as she held serve well in the opening stages of the second set, but Halep was able to break serve when it mattered to progress into the next phase of the competition.