Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitova in US Open action

Thursday 10 September 2015 08:00, UK

A revitalised Roger Federer faces Richard Gasquet aiming to reach his 38th Grand Slam semi-final and stay on course for a sixth US Open title.

The 17-time major champion and highly-talented Frenchman face each other in the night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium in battle of the beautiful one-handed backhands

Federer admits being impressed by Gasquet's recent performances and is wary of the 12th seed, who also reached the Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this year.

"I'm not sure if I've seen maybe Gasquet play as well as he has right now," Federer said.

At Wimbledon, the Swiss great added, "He had a good attitude. He was fighting. Good shot selection. It was nice. Now he's backing it up."

In last year's Davis Cup final, Federer beat Gasquet in straight sets to clinch the title for Switzerland, part of his 14-2 record against the Frenchman.

A one-time teen prodigy who won the US Open junior title at age 16, Gasquet, now 29, is still trying to fulfil his promise.

"I feel like this could be one of the tougher Gasquets I've played in previous years," Federer said, "so I expect it to be difficult."

The winner of their match will face Wawrinka or hard-hitting South African Kevin Anderson. The Swiss is a two-time major champion, while Anderson is making his first Grand Slam quarter-final appearance after stunning world No 3 Andy Murray in four sets on Monday.

Yet Anderson, who won the Winston-Salem Open coming into Flushing Meadows, is the one who has won their last four meetings.

"I feel like I'm able at least I have been in our matches to stay with him from the back," Anderson said. "When I've been aggressive, I've been able to keep him at bay."

At age 29, Anderson has reached a career-high ranking of 14th and his opponent Wawrinka is the perfect role model for a player hoping to peak in his early 30s.

He was almost 29 when he won his first major title at the Australian Open last year and Anderson believes the late start to his career saved wear and tear on his body.

"He knows what it takes," Anderson said of Wawrinka. "He's been in that position. It's my first time, but I feel like I'm hitting the ball very well."

Wednesday's two women's quarter-finals pits a player who always seems to thrive at Flushing Meadows against one who used to wilt in New York's late-summer heat.

Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, whose ranking is down to 20th after two injury-plagued seasons, took Serena Williams to three sets in the 2012 and '13 US Open finals and has been showing some glimpses of that level of play.

Her opponent, Simona Halep, may be seeded second, but this is her first quarter-final at Flushing Meadows.

Former world No 1 Azarenka has won their previous two encounters and will be favourite to progress.

In the first match, 26th-seeded Flavia Pennetta is in the quarters for the sixth time in seven years. She takes on two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who is making her first last-eight appearance in New York.

Order of play on Arthur Ashe Stadium (from 4pm BST)

(5) Petra Kvitova (Cze) v (26) Flavia Pennetta (Ita), (20) Victoria Azarenka (Blr) v (2) Simona Halep (Rom), (5) Stanislas Wawrinka (Sui) v (15) Kevin Anderson (Rsa), (12) Richard Gasquet (Fra) v (2) Roger Federer (Sui).