Rafael Nadal's 30-match clay court winning streak ended on Friday when the world number one was stunned 7-6(1) 6-4 by fellow Spaniard David Ferrer who executed a perfect game plan to reach the Monte Carlo Masters semi-finals.
Sixth seed Ferrer, who had beaten Nadal on clay only once 10 years ago and was brushed aside by the muscular left-hander in the French Open final last year, relied on his devastating forehand to prevail in over two hours.
Nadal, who made an uncharacteristic string of unforced errors, was looking to recapture his Monte Carlo crown after Serb Novak Djokovic had ended his eight-year reign in last year's final - his last defeat on the slow surface.
Ferrer will next face world number three and Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, who dismissed Canadian eighth seed Milos Raonic 7-6(5) 6-2 in his quarter-final.
"I have had to wait 10 years to beat him on clay. It was a long wait but I am pleased with the win and the way I played," Ferrer told Spanish TV.
"I spoke with my coach and we had a clear gameplan but with Rafa it's always tough because he doesn't allow you to follow it. The good thing was I was able to deal with his attacks and stay strong physically for the whole match."
Nadal said he did not manage to stick to his own gameplan.
"I didn't play the right way. I didn't play with the right intensity with my forehand," he explained.
"I played too short. I gave him the chance to have the control of the point almost all the time."
LENGTHY DOGFIGHT
Ferrer broke Nadal's serve in the second game, only for the top seed to break back in the third after a 16-minute dogfight in overcast conditions at the Monte Carlo Country Club.
Ferrer saw off a potentially decisive break point in the 11th game and the opening set went to a tiebreak, which he won 7-1 as Nadal collapsed.
Nadal continued to struggle in the second set, with a weak drop shot being easily retrieved by Ferrer as he broke for 2-1.
The world number six stole Nadal's serve again for 5-2 as the clock ticked past the two-hour mark.
Nadal broke back for 5-3 and held for 5-4 but bowed out on the first match point when he netted a routine backhand.
Earlier, Swiss Wawrinka, who did not play on Thursday because his third-round opponent Nicolas Almagro of Spain had withdrawn injured, got off to a slow start against Raonic, needing a tiebreak to pocket the first set.
He was then unstoppable, outpacing the Canadian who showed his limits at the highest level.
Later on Friday, former world number one Roger Federer takes on local favorite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Djokovic is up against unheralded Spaniard Guillermo Garcia Lopez.
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