Ferrer shocks Nadal at Monte Carlo

MONTE CARLO: David Ferrer produced a major upset at the Monte Carlo Masters as the persistent Spaniard stunned eight-time champion Rafael Nadal 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Ferrer, seeded sixth, handed the top seed only his third loss at the tournament a day after Nadal had won his 300th clay match of his career and 50th at the Monte Carlo Country Club.

Ferrer came to the court with a 5-21 deficit against his compatriot, whose form has dropped this season.

He will now face off on Saturday against Australian Open winner Stanislas Wawrinka, who beat Nadal in that grand slam final and booked his place 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 over Canadian Milos Raonic.

Nadal´s only other losses at the tournament occurred in the 2003 third round against Guillermo Coria and last year when he went down in straight sets to Novak Djokovic in the final.

Prior to that final, he had won eight straight editions. Nadal was well off the boil from the start in a contest where the opening set took 75 minutes and the third game required a quarter of an hour.

The top seed ended his quest with a forehand to the net, his 44th unforced error. Ferrer battled his nerves as he served for victory leading 5-2, but was broken. On his second chance, the 32-year-old got the job done after two hours, 11 minutes.

The win was the first on clay for Ferrer against Nadal in a decade. (AFP)