Alex De Minaur has admitted that he is playing through pain and “mental battles” at this week’s Paris Masters.

The Australian enjoyed a wildly successful start to 2024 but has been battling injury setbacks since summer.

While he could end his season early to recover, De Minaur explained why he was purposefully pushing through at the final Masters 1000 of the year.

De Minaur is a man on a mission at the Paris Masters. The world No. 10 is playing just his fourth tournament since pulling out of Wimbledon with an adductor injury in July.

Thanks to his impressive first half of 2024, the Aussie is in contention to qualify for the ATP Finals for the first time in his career. Only the eight players who have won the most ranking points throughout the season can compete in the year-end championships.

To keep his chances alive, De Minaur must put in a good showing in Paris-Bercy while hoping some other players don’t overtake him. And he’s so determined to make it, he’s playing through physical and mental struggles.

“It’s causing instability in a couple of different areas, so I feel it in the adductor a little bit, and a little bit higher up, near the pubis, so it’s not an easy one,” De Minaur told The Age, confirming that his previous injury was still affecting him.

“There’s a sharp pain with [certain] movements, and it makes it tough to go out and be my usual self, retrieving many of the balls that I’m so used to putting back in play. Now, it makes it a bit more unknown with what I’m going to be able to do on any given day.”

While his injury has caused a lot of uncertainty, De Minaur wants to keep completing. The 25-year-old knows he will have other opportunities to make it to the ATP Finals in Turin but he’s keen to “dig deep” now.

He continues “I know that it’s not going to be my only chance or shot. I know that I’ve got plenty more to give, so I’m doing my best to make it happen this year, but if it doesn’t happen, I believe that everything happens for a reason, and it’s just going to make me stronger into next year.

“The goal is to play. It all depends on the body, but sure as hell I’m going to push myself to do my best, to dig deep… I’m just going to put my head down, compete and try my best.”

However, his approach is taking a toll. De Minaur admitted it was taxing going onto the court and mentally trying to juggle the match with his pain.

“There are a lot of mental battles going on while I’m trying to play these matches, and I’m trying to find different ways of competing with what I’ve got,” he added.

“The end goal, obviously, is Turin and trying to make it there, and every day I’m feeling a little bit better, which is a positive.”

The world No. 10 will face Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round of the Paris Masters as he continues to fight for a spot in the season-ending championships. He is also set to compete in Belgrade next week to gain those all-important points in the race.