Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic both skipped the 2022 Canadian Open, the former due to a minor injury and the latter due to vaccine protocols in the country not allowing unvaccinated travelers to enter the country.In the absence of the duo, Daniil Medvedev, Carlos Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas emerged as the top seeds and the favorites to win the ATP1000 tournament prior to its start, only for all three of them to exit the event in the second round.While Medvedev fell to the mercurial Nick Kyrgios in his opener (first round being a bye), Alcaraz and Tsitsipas were shown the door by Tommy Paul and Jack Draper respectively.Although the top two seeds went to three sets, the Greek couldn't even manage that, falling to the Brit in straight sets. In fact, this was the first time since 1999 that none of the Top-3 seeds won their first clash at a Masters 1000 event.Tennis fans on social media were more than disappointed with the trio for their disappointing displays, lamenting that the ATP Tour was in shambles at the moment in the absence of the fabled Big-3.One fan was of the opinion that there would be dark days ahead for the men's circuit, with new winners propping up every week once Nadal and Djokovic hung up their racquets, and tweeted:"This is truly the weakest era, once Nadal and Djokovic retire, there will be different champions every week just like the WTA."craving@alisa_things@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios This is truly the weakest era. Once Nadal and Djokovic retires, there will be different champions every week just like the WTA.1635@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios This is truly the weakest era. Once Nadal and Djokovic retires, there will be different champions every week just like the WTA.Another user remarked that the result should be a shining example of why the ATP rankings are a mess at the moment, thanks to the decision not to award ranking points at Wimbledon, and wrote:"Expect the whole of Tennis to know these are not the Top-3 players in the world and far from it. If you alter the rankings to suit your agenda then this is what happens."Pavvy G@pavygExpect the whole of Tennis know these are not the Top 3 players in the world and far from it.If you alter the rankings to suit your agenda then this is what happens @AndreaGaudenzi twitter.com/tennistv/statu…Tennis TV@TennisTV1. Medvedev 2. Alcaraz 3. Tsitsipas For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches233811. Medvedev ❌2. Alcaraz ❌3. Tsitsipas ❌For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches https://t.co/EnP2N13g9XExpect the whole of Tennis know these are not the Top 3 players in the world and far from it.If you alter the rankings to suit your agenda then this is what happens @AndreaGaudenzi twitter.com/tennistv/statu…Here are a few more reactions from fans:Afriyie 👓@theafriyie_@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios That's what happens when we have fraudulent rankings.491@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios That's what happens when we have fraudulent rankings.Bonnie Looi@tennisprincess2@alisa_things @TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios Sad but true. Will miss their dominating the #tennis world despite not a fan of Djokovic. Just got used to the Top 3 men. Might not even watch the next era of tennis. Not the same without my fave Rafa.1@alisa_things @TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios Sad but true. Will miss their dominating the #tennis world despite not a fan of Djokovic. Just got used to the Top 3 men. Might not even watch the next era of tennis. Not the same without my fave Rafa.MPORA Ⓜ️🅾️SES🎾🇺🇬@MosesMpora1@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios The next generation ladies and gentlemen!39@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios The next generation ladies and gentlemen!José Luis Ayala@jl_ayala99@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios The current rankings are a joke and we can only blame the Player Council (Fedal & co) for that. Djokovic dropped to 7th (currently 6th) after winning Wimbledon 🤣 and Kyrgios should be at least top 15 yet he’s 37th… Awarding no points at Wimbledon ruined the rest of the season.7@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios The current rankings are a joke and we can only blame the Player Council (Fedal & co) for that. Djokovic dropped to 7th (currently 6th) after winning Wimbledon 🤣 and Kyrgios should be at least top 15 yet he’s 37th… Awarding no points at Wimbledon ruined the rest of the season.Ben@RafaGoatdal22Welcome to post big 3 era!🙂 twitter.com/tennistv/statu…Tennis TV@TennisTV1. Medvedev 2. Alcaraz 3. Tsitsipas For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches213821. Medvedev ❌2. Alcaraz ❌3. Tsitsipas ❌For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches https://t.co/EnP2N13g9XWelcome to post big 3 era!🙂 twitter.com/tennistv/statu…Enda Higgins@endahiggins88Alcaraz likely to be an incredible player and Med can get back to machine mode... But the ATP is also at risk of having a big hangover following such a strong era of the big 4 (and Stan and co....) The consistency isn't there from those coming through yet. twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…Tennis TV@TennisTV1. Medvedev 2. Alcaraz 3. Tsitsipas For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches53821. Medvedev ❌2. Alcaraz ❌3. Tsitsipas ❌For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches https://t.co/EnP2N13g9XAlcaraz likely to be an incredible player and Med can get back to machine mode... But the ATP is also at risk of having a big hangover following such a strong era of the big 4 (and Stan and co....) The consistency isn't there from those coming through yet. twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…Jess 🍵@jessica4steinStef, AZ & Med have been consistent and holding off the rise of their gen and young gen for a couple of years now. They have patches where they flopped (IW & Miami in particular) and the other guys can breathe. twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…Tennis TV@TennisTV1. Medvedev 2. Alcaraz 3. Tsitsipas For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches103821. Medvedev ❌2. Alcaraz ❌3. Tsitsipas ❌For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches https://t.co/EnP2N13g9XStef, AZ & Med have been consistent and holding off the rise of their gen and young gen for a couple of years now. They have patches where they flopped (IW & Miami in particular) and the other guys can breathe. twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…Jess 🍵@jessica4steinChaos era here we go. twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…Tennis TV@TennisTV1. Medvedev 2. Alcaraz 3. Tsitsipas For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches1011. Medvedev ❌2. Alcaraz ❌3. Tsitsipas ❌For the first time in a Masters 1000 since 1999 Indian Wells, the Top 3 seeds are all defeated in their opening matches https://t.co/EnP2N13g9XChaos era here we go. twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…Claudio Chicca@Kesio_33@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios This is a clear demonstration of how strong and consistent the fabulous 3 (Rog, Rafa & Nole) have been over the years3@TennisTV @jackdraper0 @TommyPaul1 @NickKyrgios This is a clear demonstration of how strong and consistent the fabulous 3 (Rog, Rafa & Nole) have been over the yearsRafael Nadal back in action at Cincinnati, Novak Djokovic likely to play next in Laver CupRafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic will play together at the Laver Cup up nextAt the Cincinnati Open next week, however, things will be different. Rafael Nadal has made himself available for the ATP1000 tournament, taking to social media yesterday to reveal that he will be departing for the United States soon.A one-time winner at the event, the Spaniard will be hoping to close the gap between him and Novak Djokovic in the Masters 1000 race to just one with a title run at this year's edition in Cincinnati.Tennis Tracker@TrackerTennis"Very happy to play again in Cincy" - Rafael Nadal confirms participation in Cincinnati Open dlvr.it/SWQ4lM587"Very happy to play again in Cincy" - Rafael Nadal confirms participation in Cincinnati Open dlvr.it/SWQ4lMUnfortunately, the Serb himself will not be available to thwart the 22-time Grand Slam champion there, considering that the same protocols that prevented him from playing in Montreal also stop him from entering the United States. The 21-time Major winner is likely, therefore, to miss the US Open as well, allowing the Mallorcan another shot at increasing his lead in the Slam race.Djokovic will be back in action after that at the Laver Cup, where he will be joined by Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and others. From there, he will move to the Asian swing, with tournaments scheduled to take place in Japan and South Korea before the ATP World Tour Finals at the end of the season.