Since my opponent has played in the center position (1,1), taking a corner is a strategically sound response. By playing in the top-left corner (0,0), I set up potential winning lines along the top row, left column, and the diagonal from top-left to bottom-right. Any corner would be equally good at this point due to the rotational symmetry of the board with X in the center, but I'll choose the top-left to establish my first position. This move prevents my opponent from creating an immediate threat while giving me multiple paths to potentially create a winning alignment.