1. Past simple
Use the past simple to express an event that took place at a definite past time.
Past time words are often used to fix the action or state in the past. For example, when, yesterday, last week, three months ago, etc: -
When did you last write a letter by hand? – I think it was about a year ago.
When there are no past time words, the context often places the action or event in the past (either the recent past or the more remote past): Where did you learn to do those magic tricks? Karl Benz invented the first motor car.
For habits or to say how often something happened in the past.
They phoned the we three times yesterday. (Not: They were phoning ...)

2. Present perfect simple
when there is a connection between the past and the present. The connection can either be implied or obvious. The exact timing is not important: The explorers have just reached the North Pole. He's lost a lot of weight in the last few months.
for things that have just happened or when the event is still relevant or is still 'news': Oh, no! The wheel has fallen off!
You must use the present perfect simple form when you mention the number of times: Mat train has broken down three times so far this week.

3. The event might have started at some time in the past and still continues:
l have known about the problem for a long time ,but I haven’t done anything about it yet.
to give general news or information. This is followed by more detail using the past simple:
A new zoo for endangered species has opened in the Little District. It took fur years to build and runs entirely on solar energy.

4. practice
Rafa Nadal…………………….. born in Manacor in He………………………… four French Open titles and an Olympic gold medal. In 2008, Nadal ……………………………..the second Spanish man to win Wimbledon.
Since 2004, Nadal……………………………………….. a strong competitor to Roger Federer. They ……………………………………… against each other in seven Grand Slam finals. Nadal ………………………….. five of them. Nadal ……………………………….. World No. 2 behind Federer for a record 160 weeks. He ……………………………….. the first in the rank for 46 weeks.
Rafa …………………………………. the Davis Cup with the Spanish team four times so far. They ………………………………. the trophy in 2004 and 2008, although he………………………………………………. on the final due to a knee injury.
Some trivia about him:
He ………………………………… playing tennis when he………………………………….. five.
In 2002, he…………………………………. his first ATP match at Majorca at the age of 15.
He ………………………………………………………….(ALWAYS) with his left hand although he is right-handed.
He ………………………………………….. the Fundación Rafa Nadal, which promotes sport as an integration tool for those who need it the most, such as handicapped, immigrant and socially excluded people.