PARIS -- For future opponents of top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Sa offers some advice: Don't listen to a word he says.

Intense, dramatic and often his own loudest cheerleader, Hewitt isn't exactly quiet on court. Many of his winning points are followed by fist pumps and yells of ``Come on!''

It was that way throughout his first-round match over Sa at the French Open on Monday, a 7-5, 6-4, 7-5 victory that lasted nearly three hours.

``You can't let him get into your head, all these things he does,'' the 83rd-ranked Sa said. ``If I hear him, it means he won the point. I feel better if I don't listen.''

On-court noise wasn't the only distraction. Cloudy skies gave way to pelting rain and intervals of bright sunshine. Hewitt said the weather made it tough to concentrate on tennis and contributed to his slow start.

``It was tough conditions out there,'' the reigning U.S. Open champion said. ``One minute I felt like I was getting burned, the next minute I was ready to come off because it was getting too heavy with the rain.''

Hewitt wasn't the only one feeling the effects of the weather.

Two-time defending champion Gustavo Kuerten was leading Ivo Heuberger of Switzerland 7-5, 6-2, 2-1 when rain halted play across Roland Garros. When they returned, Kuerten didn't waste any time winning the third set 6-2.

Pete Sampras, without a tournament win since the 2000 Wimbledon, lost to Andrea Gaudenzi 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (3) after two rain delays.

In other early matches, Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson beat Franco Squillari of Argentina 6-2, 7-6 (6), 6-2. No. 18-seeded Alex Corretja, last year's runner-up, beat Bohdan Ulihrach 6-1, 6-4, 6-1; No. 16 Younes El Aynaoui eliminated American Jan-Michael Gambill 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4

Hewitt was given a stern test in the opening set as his counter-punching tactics proved ineffective against the determined Sa in the windy and overcast conditions.

But Hewitt, the U.S. Open champion, finally drew blood in the 12th game when nerves got the better of the 83rd ranked Sa, who hit three unforced errors to lose serve.

With the momentum clearly in his favor, a pumped up Hewitt bagged the set with a forehand winner after 62 minutes.

Sa, whose only previous visit to Roland Garros also ended in the first round in 2000, tried to grab back the initiative by breaking the U.S. Open champion at the beginning of the second.

The Brazilian, however, failed to hold on to the advantage as Hewitt immediately broke back and motored through the set by constantly applying pressure on the Sa serve.

Hewitt, who rates clay as his least favorite surface, had to draw on all his experience to out maneuver his 25-year-old opponent in the third.

Sa's resolve finally crumbled at 5-5 when Hewitt blasted a series of ferocious returns to claim the break before serving out for the match.

"I didn't underestimate Andre at all as I've seen him play on clay recently, but I've always felt that court (Suzanne Lenglen) is slower than all the others here so it takes me longer to adjust to the conditions," Hewitt said.

"It's tough when you don't put your clay-court shoes on for 10 months a year and then have to whack it in the build-up to the French. "You're up against guys who grew up on clay and choose to play most of the year on the surface. For me it just takes time to get my rhythm right when I'm up against these players.

"If I can sneak into the second week, then anything can happen."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.