Nadal crashes in Monte Carlo, Federer faces Djokovic

MONTE CARLO, Monaco, Apr 19 (AFP): Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal slumped to a shock Monte Carlo Masters quarter-final defeat to compatriot David Ferrer Friday while Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic struggled into a semi-final showdown.
Ferrer claimed a famous 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 win to hand the top seed only his third loss in the principality just a day after Nadal had won his 300th career claycourt match and 50th at the Monte Carlo Country Club.
Meanwhile Federer, bidding to win the title for the first time, squandered his first 15 break points before finally coming good on a 16th on his way to a 2-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 defeat of French ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Defending champion Djokovic was then taken to three sets by Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain before the Serb second seed finally won 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 on his fourth match point and more than two hours of battle.
Ferrer came to the court Friday with a 5-21 deficit against Nadal who last failed to make the final in Monte Carlo in his debut year of 2003.
"When the opponent is doing things better than you, the normal thing is to lose. That's what happened today," said Nadal, who committed 44 unforced errors.
"I didn't play the right way. I didn't play with the right intensity with my forehand. I played too short. I give him the chance to have the control of the point almost all the time. He did much better than me, so I just congratulate him."