*** Wawrinka sets up another Kyrgios showdown | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Wawrinka sets up another Kyrgios showdown

French Open champion Stan Wawrinka reached the Dubai Tennis Championships semi-finals on Thursday where he will face brash Australian Nick Kyrgios in their first meeting since their infamous duel in Canada last year.

Wawrinka saw off Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 6-1 while Kyrgios stunned third-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-4.

When the pair met in Montreal last August, Kyrgios was widely lambasted for making crude sexual remarks on-court concerning Wawrinka's girlfriend Donna Vekic, a Croatian WTA professional.

Kyrgios was handed a suspended 28-day ban and $25,000 fine.

But the Australian insisted Thursday there won't be a problem when he faces second-seeded Wawrinka on Friday.

"Since the incident, I think we've both moved on from it," said the 20-year-old.

"We played on the same team in IPTL (International Premier Tennis League). That was actually really good. I got to know him a little bit more. He played great there.

"He's one of the best players in the world, no doubt. He's playing great tennis."

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