Hi there!
We already have a really big pool of good, yet simple advises. I would like to add some thoughts on that.
I'm a looper and just like many other players I'm on the offensive most of the time. Yet I struggle most of the time against lower skilled but more experienced player, who are slower than me. Or there are some players, who have some good loopdrives, that are hard to counter. There was also a guy who I met at an international championship, who did a crappy warmup with me just to shock me when the game started, because he was a godd player, but at the warmup he intentionally played like a newbie. So this is where panic starts. I get tense, I want to make all of my strokes count, all of my serves to be unreturnable and all I want to go for are easy points, with only 1-2 hits.
First: relax, the first game is only for getting the feel of the real game and your opponent. So try different shots, but do not force heavy spin, too fast strokes. Risk only one or two high-risk shots. Only play what is comfortable for you and analyse, what is bad for your opponent. Vary the placement of the ball, do some classical shuffles to see, if there is any footwork problem on the other side of the table. Try some loopkills, counterloops to test if you can overpower your opponents opening loop. But only use 80% of your full power. Always get the ball back on the table. Watch your opponent carefully, learn to read his/her movements to get familiar with it. Test your opponent if he/she can handle some difficult situations with a finisher. Be always ready, that the ball will come back. If you hit/loop hard with much tension you can not recover fast enough and your attention will turn inside and you can not focus on the opponent and the ball.
Second: Identify one to three things, that gives you an advantage against your opponent, no matter if you have lost or won the first round. Do not get (over)confident if you won the first game. These few key points that you identify will give the base of your game. Most of the time (70%) you will play those routines or balls, that will force an error or dominate your opponent. In the other 30% play something else, that gives you comfort. Soon your opponent will be less successful and you will win nearly every point in general, except some situations, where your opponent excels no matter what is happening to him/her. Do not get upset or worry about these lucky shots or good hits. Pay a compliment for your opponent for that shot.
Third: always keep relaxed. Keep up the feeling of the flow. The flow comes from your continuous movement and rythm. This can be achieved if you don't try to hit hard, keep relaxed. Just get the ball back on the other side. Keep in simple, use only a few type of shots. Stick to your plan of your game. Do not get too comfortable, do not let your guard down. Don't play slower nor faster even if you have the upper hand.
Fourth: (Equipment junkie corner.) If possible inspect the equipment of your opponent, then you know what to expect (mostly). Learn the difference against some long-pips and short-pips. Some can grab the ball and it is possible to do a push-push game, some are slippery, and you always have to play push-loop. On the other side you can see if your opponent is on the attacking side for example with T05. There is a skill required to play with T05, most of the times it is easy to force errors out of players, who have better (and more demanding stuff), that their style and level requires.
Fifth: Most of the time viciousness guides the path of the ball. So when returning the ball keep calm and place the ball first. Only go for a finishing stroke when you are absolutely 100% sure, that you can make it count. Be ready if it comes back to finish it again. In most of the cases in the first games it is safer not to kill every ball. Play it with confidence and try to force an error on an open situation, where the opportunity is served/given for you by your opponent.
Personal stories:
- I can usually beat youngsters, who are more talented than me, with simple strategy. Most of the time they hurry and force the topspin game. They only need some heavy pushes of some hard opening loops, and they will fail some hits. This is where the tension will build up and the mistakes will come. On the other hand I know I will have to keep this mental state up giving some easy balls that they can finish, with keeping my poker face, hiding the fact, that their success was my intention, because the next 3-4 points will be mine. They are way more trained then me, I can not beat them on loop to loop combat.
- Sometimes (nowdays more often), when I'm in the "flow" state I "amaze" myself. Last time I managed to recover 2 edge sots in the same game, where the opponent's drive shots bounced 30 cm (~1 foot) lower than expected. One was even on the side of the table, but I managed to solve it with two loops, that were actually winners. When you are in the flow and play around 80% of your power, you can control your shots and make some adjustments on the move.
- Keep your enemies closer, than your friends. Most of the times it is fun to play against someone, who is similar to you. But there are other players, who play pips, antispin and some quite weird setups. Play against them, do not force the game to get a point. Get the ball back, try to feel the game. Let the feeling sink in, give it time. And the next time if you face someone, simply describe him/her like: "My opponent's service is just like my friend's at the club." "She plays like XYZ, but hits better with pips." After a time, you will get used to your opponents in the first few points.
- Learn to be patient and humble. Mitigate your frustration. Try to do everyday stuff with your other hand for some weeks, soon you will learn patience and how to deal with your inner turmoils.
- Play some matches where you risk something (a drink or a chocolate or some tasty food, cinema ticket or whatever, that has some value to both of you).
Sorry for the long post. These are my thoughts and experience about the excitement.