A win over the eight-times French Open champion Nadal on clay is so rare that only a quartet of men have managed the feat more than once. Ferrer with two wins joins Novak Djokovic (three),Gaston Guadio (three) and Roger Federer (two) in some exalted company.
What's more it is the first time 10 years that Ferrer has beaten him on the surface with his previous success coming way back in 2004.
"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."
World number six Ferrer is the third man to beat Nadal in Monte Carlo courtesy of a gutsy, attacking display. He will face Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka in the last four after the Swiss player's 7-6 6-2 win over Milon Raonic earlier in the day.
Nadal won eight straight titles in Monaco between 2005-12 before losing to Djokovic in last year's final. Defeat to Ferrer marks his earliest exit at the event since he lost on his debut in the third round to Guillermo Coria as a teenager in 2003.
Nadal made 44 unforced errors on his way to defeat. Ferrer broke in the third and seventh games of the second set having dominated the first set tie-break.
Mallorcan Nadal fought back from 5-2 behind to trail 5-4 in the second set, but the man from Valencia kept his cool at 30-30 in the tenth game as a forehand winner and a Nadal error that ended up in the net from a backhand sealed the win in Ferrer's favour.
Results from the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals
6-David Ferrer (Spain) beat 1-Rafa Nadal (Spain) 7-6(1) 6-4
3-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat 8-Milos Raonic (Canada) 7-6(5) 6-2
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