Wawrinka says he is 'not friends' with Kyrgios ahead of Dubai clash

Two-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka has admitted that he and Australian player Nick Kyrgios are far from being friends as the duo prepare for the semi-final clash at the Dubai Open on Friday.

Wawrinka's comments came in the wake of the Kyrgios' insulting remark on the French's girlfriend during their Montreal Masters match last year in August. He was also handed a suspended ban and a fine by the ATP tour for his remark.

The 30-year-old said that he and Kyrgios were not more than competitors, adding that it would be a good challenge to play against him,Sport24 reported.

Wawrinka, however, heaped praise on Kyrgios, saying that he was full of confidence and playing his best tennis these days.

Earlier, Kyrgios had insisted that he has put aside his infamous sledging row with Wawrinka, saying that the duo shared a good rapport while playing together for Singapore Slammers in the 2015 edition of International Premier Tennis League (IPTL).

The other semi-final clash will feature Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.

Lopez made it to the last-four when top-seed Novak Djokovic pulled out of their quarter-final clash after suffering from an eye infection.