He brought experience and familiarity to his second season on tennis’ biggest stage.
But he also brought expectation and a game his opponents knew. That brought a new set of challenges for the Queenstown doubles specialist, who represents Japan.
After two impressive Grand Slam runs in 2018, he was unable to progress past the first round in this year’s first three majors.
He rediscovered form at the US Open. Alongside a new partner in Great Britain’s Luke Bambridge, he reached the quarterfinals — being beaten by the eventual champions.
It left him ranked 44th in the world at year’s end, a dip from his peak last year at 18 — although still enough to earn a cool $378,000 of prize money.
Now back home for Christmas after playing at the Davis Cup, McLachlan was happy with his year.
"It was good. It was a learning year, I thought," he said.
He said playing his second year at bigger tournaments meant there was "a bit more expectation".
"A lot of people knew my game and had game plans against me and I definitely found it a little harder than the year before."
Learning to deal with the expectations had been key, as well as the pressure that came with attempting to replicate his past successes.
There are very fine margins in that as well. Doubles games at the highest level are often decided by a handful of points.
"Pretty much every tournament is like that now.
"Every match you play comes down to one or two points.
"You’ve got to be ready at all times to take advantage of when you do come through those tight matches, maybe get on a roll for a few matches and go deep into a grand slam."
Linking with Bambridge would help with that.
Previously he formed a strong duo with German Jan-Lennard Struff at his big tournaments.
However, as Struff’s focus was on singles — he is ranked 35th in the world — it placed limitations on what the duo could do as a doubles pair.
After Wimbledon, McLachlan decided to try something different.
"A lot of the decision had to do not with results, but progress ... being able to practice doubles and play with a full-time doubles player.
"Up until then I was just playing with a guy that played full-time singles.
"So we never actually got to practice together and improve on certain aspects of our game and tactics wise.
"Being able to work with a partner full-time and play every single week together is pretty important, I think.
"Especially when every match comes down to one or two points, if you know your partner’s tendencies really well and you’ve got the tactics down, those can be really important points."
He hoped to take that form into the new year.
The Australian Open, in which he made the semifinals in 2018, looms as the next big event.
Before that he will play for Japan at the ATP Cup — the ATP’s version of the Davis Cup — and Auckland’s ASB Classic will feature, if he qualifies.
