STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- Lleyton Hewitt was stunned 6-3, 6-3 by Raemon Sluiter in the Stockholm Open's second round Wednesday, when three of the top-seeded players were eliminated.

Wimbledon champion Hewitt was joined on the sideline by defending champion Sjeng Schalken and Australian Open winner Thomas Johansson. A third 2002 Grand Slam champion also lost Wednesday: The French Open's Albert Costa was beaten by Adrian Voinea 6-3, 6-3 at the Swiss Indoors in Basel, Switzerland.

"He just played too well,'' said Hewitt, who got a first-round walkover when Thomas Enqvist withdrew because of an injury. "He came right at me from the start. He was aggressive. You have to give him credit. He's one of the best indoor players.''

The loss could jeopardize Hewitt's chances of finishing the year as the world's top-ranked player. He led No. 2 Andre Agassi by just 43 points going into the Stockholm Open. With Hewitt's loss, Agassi could move within 8 points of the world No. 1 with a win in St. Petersburg.

In Russia, Agassi won his opening match at the St. Petersburg Open, getting past Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4 Wednesday.

Against Sluiter, Hewitt seldom looked comfortable on the relatively slow hard court. After winning the first set with an ace, Sluiter broke immediately to lead 1-0 in the second set.

"I didn't serve well,'' Hewitt said. "I served a lot of (double faults). The conditions were difficult. I didn't suit me. The balls were heavy.''

Schalken, a U.S. Open semifinalist last month, was upset by Taylor Dent of the United States 7-6 (3), 6-4, while Johansson lost to Tommy Robredo 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

In other action Wednesday, Fabrice Santoro knocked off fifth-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela 6-1, 6-3, seventh-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan eliminated Robin Soderling 6-2, 6-1, Joachim Johansson defeated Albert Portas 6-3, 6-3, and Hicham Arazi ousted Magnus Norman 6-2, 6-2.