Roger Federer was handed a couple of big cheques on Sunday, including one he was expecting to pick up a year ago, after clinching his second title of the season at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The overdue cheque was for appearance money withheld a year ago by tournament organisers in Dubai, after he was accused of not trying enough in a second-round drubbing by Germany's Rainer Schuettler.

"I really try to forget last year," said Federer, clearly still embarrassed by the episode, after he defeated Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic 6-1 7-5 (7/2).

The second was for £90,000, for his sixth career title.

Federer has now won 14 of his last 15 matches, and nobody can accuse him of not trying this season as he seeks to become a permanent member of the top five.

This victory followed his triumph in Marseille earlier in the month and his only loss since the start of February was in the Rotterdam semi-finals.

The 21-year-old top seed did not drop a set during the week in Dubai, scoring wins against Irakli Labadze, Maximillian Abel, Hicham Arazi, Ivan Ljubicic and Novak, the third seed.

He will climb to third in the Champions Race as a consequence, behind Andre Agassi and, ironically, Schuettler.

"It's been for me a great four weeks," Federer commented.

"Last year I had the same schedule and couldn't cope with the fatigue.

"In Marseille I came through as number one seed, and here too. It's really good for your confidence.

"I really focused on a good start today, because if I could take an early lead it was going to help me out and save some energy for the rest of the match."

Novak claimed Federer had played "unbelievable" tennis in the first set, but he made it more of a contest in the tight second.

"He had been playing all his matches under the lights and it was a little bit of an advantage for him," said Novak.

"He was killing me all the time from all the spots on the court.

"He won the first set 6-1, but the second set it was open. I made two breaks in the second set (for 2-0 and 3-1) but I didn't hold my own serve. I just have to congratulate him because he was better."