Intro:

Top women's players spoke Saturday (23 August) ahead of the 2014 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York. The tournament gets under way Monday, 25 August.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Simona Halep:

"A little bit, yes (smiling). Last year I didn't expect that I can get in top 10 this year, but it was my dream to be in top 20. Now I'm second in the rankings, so it's an amazing feeling for me. I'm not very surprised because I had good matches in the past also with top players. I beat them, and then I got more confidence in myself. My game, it starts to be -- I improved more in my game. In my serve also. With my forehand I hit stronger than before. So it's I think I deserve to be here because I won few titles and also important matches. I did finals in Grand Slam. So I just want to keep this work going and to see how far and how good I can be, how better I can be in the future."