Yeah, it does bring some tension. It's not just bashing buttons, though. I hope you don't mind if I give you three things to focus on. They look really obvious, but it's very hard to actually to them very well. Thinking about them while queued will surely bring up your level.

• Don't be hit! Knowing what your opponents do, their reach and how you can dodge is a big deal. Specially their signature moves (idle stand + strong attack).
• Hit! Learn your attack distances. Where exactly it will hit and how long after you've pressed the button. Predicting where other players want to be also helps.
• Move! You don't have to dash all the time, but an unpredictable moving target is a lot harder to hit. Remember to dodge sometimes.