Stone symbolising love for a friend? (4)

I believe the answer is:

opal

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'stone' is the definition.
(gemstone)

'love for a friend?' is the wordplay.
'love' becomes 'o' (love means zero in tennis).
'for' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'a friend?' becomes 'pal' (pal can mean a friend).
'o'+'pal'='OPAL'

'symbolising' acts as a link.
This may not be right. It may belong to another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for opal that I've seen before include "Translucent gem" , "Semi-transparent gem" , "raw material" , "Mineral used as a gemstone, of hydrated silica" , "Shimmering stone" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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