On 9x9 the advantage of first move is huge, a lot more than it is on 19x19 board.
Basically on 9x9, black has the option of opening at tengen. This single black stone in the middle is effectively a 5-5 cornerstone on every corner of the board, meaning that first white stone being played has no other options than being an corner invasion somewhere under that 5-5 stone.
So unless black screws up his strategy, there should never be a situation on 9x9 where white is actually building something. That komi of 5.5 is actually the only thing giving white the chance of fighting back, otherwise it would be really hard to fight against tengen opening.
(5-5 might not be as common as 4-4 or 4-3, but it’s still a valid cornermove)
from Center Opening on 9x9 - #8 by _KoBa
PS: i personally too rather play 9x9 games as w than b, but that is because i feel more confortable reacting on what my opponent is doing by playing to reduce and live, than i feel about building territory as black. I think this is more about question if my playing style that anything else.