I saw the highlights of the match lady TT:
the key for Rafa was 2 things:
1. the return
2. the backhand
if those things are working and clicking for him, he is tough to deal with. the rest pretty much falls in place.
it turns out that those 2 things were clicking. he got 90% of the serves back in the first set. that is simply huge.
he hit his backhand well and that made it possible for him to try to retain the control of the center of the court.
that way he does not have to give up too much court.