What's the plan?

I revealed today that I have basically no plan when I step on the court to play a game. Aside from mimicking the other player and that turns out well when he/she is a strong player, I really have no clue what to do. I suppose most of the time I'm too self absorbed in thinking about my own technique, worked up over my own mental state, and nervous that I don't really notice what the other player is doing or what his/her weaknesses are.

Niki gave me some things to think about, like paying attention to what the other player does or how he responds to certain shots. Aside from not knowing what I should do, I also end up doing the worst thing possible which is to replay the same shots because of an urge to hit it better. I give my opponent my worst shot to which he can punish me for.

So the plan which I'm stealing from Niki will be to hit a good deep tight shot and see how the other player can handle it. Then I start testing the volley response, pace, and his movement to the front court.