In one the most dramatic Davis Cup finals in history, the Americans completed a 3-2 victory over Romania in Bucharest on this day 44 years ago.

The Davis Cup final took place just six weeks after terrorists killed 11 members of the Israeli team at the 1972 Olympics and the tie in Romania was the next big sporting event to take place.

Amidst tense geopolitical surroundings, the Americans took a 2-1 lead heading into the final day.

In the first reverse singles on day three, Stan Smith gave the visitors an unassailable 3-1 lead by beating Ion Tiriac, playing some majestic tennis to deliver a bagel in the fifth set.

It was USA’s fifth consecutive Davis Cup triumph.

Here are some other memorable sporting events that happened on this day:

1923: The New York Yankees claim their first World Series title by beating New York Giants 4 games to 2.

1983: Nelson Piquet wins his second F1 world championship by a mere two points after snatching the title
away from Alain Prost at the final grand prix of the season in Kyalami.

1990: Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram share 10 wickets in a Test for the first time, taking 15 in all as Pakistan thrashed New Zealand by an innings and 43 runs in Karachi