Rafael Nadal has lost to Spanish countryman Fernando Verdasco for the first time in the third round of the Madrid Open, blowing a 4-1 lead in the third set as he went down 6-3 3-6 7-5.

After overcoming an offbeat first set on the event’s unorthodox blue-clay court, Nadal evened the score on Thursday and appeared set to move on to the quarter-finals.

But Verdasco took charge to get his first win over Nadal in 14 tries.

“After losing so many times against honestly the best player on clay ever, to beat him on clay is the maximum,” said an emotional Verdasco. “I don’t have words.”

Verdasco will play Tomas Berdych next after the Czech beat Gael Monfils 6-1, 6-1.