Jessica Pegula v Jasmine Paolini result - WTA Finals as the 2023 finalist advances to the semis by beating Paolini in straight sets

Jessica Pegula booked her place in the semi-finals with an emphatic 6-2 6-3 win over eighth seed Jasmine Paolini.

The 2023 finalist was the favourite to win going into the match given Paolini's struggles with illness, and the crowd were just waiting to see how many games she could protect from the American.

Pegula broke early in the first set, and 12 unforced errors didn't help Paolini's efforts. Pegula would go on to drop only two sets with some brilliant winners on the line and big serves that drew a slew of mistakes fom the Italian.

Paolini looked a little better in the second set, but a couple of double faults saw her wobble against the in-form Pegula. There was a flash of her typical cheery self as she won a cheeky point off the net, then slammed a big forehand winner home.

But Pegula held firm to see out the set a break ahead, and her bold second serves did her a world of good against the tiring Paolini who struggled to return them.

Pegula needed straight sets to put her best foot forward, but her decisive win boosted her game-win percentage to mathematically secure her a semis spot no matter the result between groupmates Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.

As runner-up of the group, she will face Serena Williams group winner Elena Rybakina who won all three of her matches.

Either Sabalenka or Gauff will play second-placed Amanda Anisimova, who recorded a massive win over Iga Swiatek for her ticket forward.

Admirable effort from both today, and Pegula put in a dominant effort to secure her place in the semi-finals. She now has a game-win percentage of 58%, and she will wait for the result between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff later on to see who she faces. She advances in any situation thanks to her massive effort today.

Paolini with a good move forward, taking her time to see which side Pegula chooses to cover before slamming her shot home. But Pegula is playing well as she continues to push the eighth seed hard, playing a nice volley that sees Paolini's return go long.

The crowd erupts again at a fine rally between the two, Pegula goes a bit safe with a slice backhand and Paolini delivers a decisive forehand on the line for deuce.

Hand up from Pegula this time as her shot bounces off the top of the net to force Paolini into a hard sprint towards the ball, and she directs her return to an open court.

It is another long rally before Paolini's return falls short and hits the net, and Pegula beams as she approaches the net for a handshake.

The only way Pegula will fail to advance now is if Gauff wins in three sets and she loses on game-win percentage. Going into today, she (54%) is ahead of fellow American Coco Gauff (51%), while Aryna Sabalenka sits top at 60%.

Paolini makes a brave move forward but she is just a touch slow as she misses Pegula's great cross-court shot for Pegula to go one game from the win.

A big smile on Paolini's face now as she holds her hands up, she plays a drop shot that comes off the net and goes inside the line with a bit of luck. She then plays another good winner to pull big cheers from the crowd, then slams a forehand past Pegula to hold serve.

The American stays a break ahead.

Pegula attempts another ace down the T, but it is called out. She double faults off a bold second serve.

Pegula goes for another big second serve again, and comes forward to the net to easily put the volley away. An ace seals the deal yet again and she is two games away from what seems like a very good chance at the semi-finals.

The Italian is clearly still struggling with sickness, but she holds serve with some mistakes by Pegula. She could have withdrawn from this match given her mathematical elimination, but the eighth seed is still doing her best despite only fleeting glances of her usual cheery personality.

Looking sharp for Pegula as she makes it 40-0 in quick succession, and she ties a nice bow on top of this game with an ace down the T.

Paolini is giving away a handful of unforced errors in her service games, and Pegula finds herself on the brink of break. It's 40-0, can she bring it to deuce?

A string of mistakes from Pegula helps Paolini save three break points, but she loses this set with a double fault, and she will be frustrated with that end.

Pegula's aggressive serving is paying off against a tiring Paolini. She comes forward to slap a winner into empty air as Paolini can do nothing to defend.

Paolini serves to start the second set. Pegula plays a fantastic backhand on the line from behind the baseline, Paolini can only look at it as it sails past. She double-faults again.

Another stunning winner from Pegula, she's squeezed some great shots just inside the line over this tournament.

They go to deuce. Paolini's serving is visibly slower than usual, but she is still putting in her all as she plays a good volley to hold serve.

Encouragement from the crowd continues to ring out for Paolini, who needs to break if she wants to stay in this set. She plays into the net twice after some solid serves from Pegula, but slaps a nice forehand winner down the line to claw a point back. But it isn't enough as she hits the net again, and Pegula drops only two games in this set.

Pegula is on the brink of winning this set, what can Paolini do? A couple of mistakes from the fifth seed gives Paolini some breathing room and she holds serve to dent Pegula's win percentage.

Sabalenka has the best games-won ratio so far. Pegula will want to capitalise on Paolini's struggles should the percentage come into play, and she is doing a brilliant job at drawing out errors from the eighth seed.

But the short break seems to have done Paolini some good, it's better hitting from her to put Pegula down 30-0. But Pegula rallies back with an off-balance shot on the line that Paolini can't reach.

It was Paolini's first break point, but her shots kept going into the net and Pegula gets away with the game.

Paolini musters up a great cross court winner to win a point back from Pegula. But it just isn't enough to make up for her errors as Pegula breaks.

It's a confident start from Pegula, she makes an excellent serve onto the line that Paolini sends into the rafters. She holds serve as the Italian's shots keep going long.

First double fault from Paolini. But she responds with an excellent angle on the backhand to put Pegula out of position, then slaps her winner down the line.

Pegula with a great shot on the line that Paolini just manages to reach in time - only to see it fall flat and hit the net.

They go to deuce, then Pegula slams her with powerful shots that she can't quite return to break.

Pegula controlling her shots well now, she will want to run the ailing Paolini all over the court today. An excellent serve sees the Italian struggle to return, then she plays a beautiful uncontested forehand.

Paolini serves first, with a few of her first serves going awry. A mixed first game for both, Pegula's shot hits the net to allow Paolini to hold serve.

Both players are warming up now, Paolini's racquet bag has been set up next to a box of tissues. She has been poorly at Riyadh with some bad luck, and she has also been eliminated from the doubles. She will do her best against Pegula, but we saw her just run out of steam against Coco Gauff two days prior.

Miriam Bley is umpiring today.