Naomi Osaka looked focused as she returned to Melbourne Park on Wednesday afternoon ahead of the Australian Open.

It was the first time she has publicly been seen since the US tennis star announced she and her longtime partner Cordae were 'no longer in a relationship' on Sunday night.

The pair began dating in 2019 and welcomed their daughter, Shai, in the summer of 2023.

Osaka said on her Instagram that there was 'no bad blood at all' between the pair, adding that Cordae was 'a great person and an awesome dad'.

'Honestly really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing and I was able to grow a lot from our experience together.'

Cordae, 27, is an American rapper and songrwiter who hails from North Carolina. He is signed to Atlantic Records and is understood to have met Osaka at a Los Angeles Clippers match. 

Osaka, meanwhile, has enjoyed a very good start to the year, reaching the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland, but unfortunatley was forced to retire through injury. 

The 27-year-old is Looking to win her fifth slam, after also clinching the 2020 and 2018 US Open women's singles titles, and looked focused during a practice session on Thursday.

Osaka and her coach Patrick Mouratoglou stepped out onto the courts at Melbourne Park as Osaka went through several practice sessions, working on multiple different shots.

She and Mouratoglou were seen deep in discussion over one aspect of her game before the pair smiled on the court.

And Osaka, generally, seemed to be in good form, despite this weekend's news, with the two time US Open Champion, grinning and smiling on court.

There were moments though that she did look a little frustrated with her game, turning to Mouratoglou and appearing to frown at the renowned French tennis coach.

Osaka withdrew from the 2023 Australian Open after she announced that she and Cordae were expecting their baby, Shai. She would take a hiatus from tennis with Osaka returning at the 2024 Brisbane International.

In the past year, Osaka has gone on to reach two quarter-finals, but failed to advance past the third round of any of the four majors, notably being beaten by Caroline Garcia in the opening round of the 2024 Australian Open.

But despite impressing last week in Auckland, Osaka faces an equally tough road to the final this year and will once again come up against Garcia.

This time Osaka will be hoping to enact revenge on the French star, but another potential tough draw awaits.

She'll face the winner of No 20 seed Karolina Muchova's battle against Nadia Podoroska should she qualify, and could then take on either Belinda Bencic or 16th seed, Jelena Ostapenko in the third round.

Should she advance past those opponents, Osaka could then face a potential all-US tie against either Coco Gauff or Sofia Kenin in the fourth round.

Osaka, though, has shown that she is rounding back into form, following her performances at the ASB Classic and China Open.

On Sunday, she thanked her team, family and friends for supporting her through the difficult time.

'All jokes aside I do really want to thank my team and everyone close to me for having my back and keeping me sane (though that’s debatable LOL), I’m truly very grateful,' she wrote after the ASB Classic on Threads.

'And I do really want to thank my friends all around the world (I think saying fans is a disservice). I’ve always said it feels like we’re going through this journey together and I really hope you’re having as much fun as I am.'