Roger Federer completed an almost perfect week by winning back the Dubai Open title he lost to Rafael Nadal last year.
The triple Grand Slam titleholder from Switzerland started the week by equalling Jimmy Connors's 30-year-old record of 160 consecutive weeks as number one and ended it with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Mikhail Youzhny, the unseeded Russian, in the final.
"I had a bit of a rough start here, and struggled in the early rounds. And Mikhail made a good start and I had to react," said Federer, referring to an early 0-2 deficit.
"But I am full of confidence and am on a great run. I did react and then my game came together nicely."
It extended Federer's career-best run of consecutive wins to 41, equaling the achievement of Bjorn Borg who was present watching the amazing Swiss player.
Federer also remains on course to equal Guillermo Vilas's all-time record of 46 successive victories at the next tournament, in Indian Wells, starting next week.
"You always try to make the best of it," Federer commented. "Of course I usually play well in Indian Wells, but I will have to be at my best (to equal the record)."
Youzhny's early advantage came after he had broken Federer in the opening game, scoring once with his dangerous backhand cross drive and seeing the world number one play two indifferent rallies.
But Federer soon broke back for 2-2, and broke again for 5-3, helped on the first occasion by a Youzhny double fault on game point and on the second by two double faults from the unseeded player.
Twice Youzhny had to pause before serving because the Russian support was too noisy, twice they were asked to be quiet by the umpire, and once the majority of the crowd made a hushing noise to quell their enthusiasm.
Although they gave their hero great support - Youzhny dedicated his success this week to the Russian people - they may also have unwittingly ratcheted up the tension which in the past has prevented the 24-year-old from producing his best when it mattered, and may have done this time too.
By the second set Federer was in frighteningly good form and the Swiss fans were ringing the cow bells clearly.
He made one topspin forehand lob winner look ridiculously easy, and began to look strong with his backhand topspin cross court drive - the shot which may be crucial if he is to get the better of Rafael Nadal in the French Open.
Once he carefully watched a replay of it on the giant scoreboard.
Youzhny played his best tennis when he was in the tightest corner. He saved four match points at 2-5 with some wonderfully fluent ground strokes, and held his serve.
But Federer served out the match without alarm. Youzhny, who was playing his second final in successive weeks, ended with the consolation of having extended a career-best start to the year to a win-loss sequence of 18-5, and hopes next week he may climb three or four places to equal or overtake his highest previous ranking of world number 15.
"It was a good week for me," he said. "But Roger is so good. I won five games from him last year, and seven this time. Next year I hope to do enough to beat him. But this time he gave me a very good lesson."