The 25-year-old from Queenstown has advanced to the top 16 in the men’s doubles, after an impressive upset win in yesterday’s second round.
Alongside partner Jan-Lennard Struff, he knocked off ninth-seeded Spaniards Marc and Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Both were ranked in the world’s top 25 and the win represents a significant landmark in McLachlan’s career.
After going down in the first set, the duo had the uppder hand from the outset in the second.
They held serve, before obtaining a crucial break when the Spanish duo double-faulted on game points.
McLachlan and Struff then held serve to go three-up, before the Spaniards fought back by holding in turn.
The Spanish duo could not break back though which set up a deciding set.
The winning duo did the damage early in the third set.
After their opponents held serve to go 1-0 up, they broke twice in a row to take a 4-1 lead.
On both breaks they showed grit, taking each to deuce, before capitalising on the point.
From there they cruised home, holding serve for a comfortable 6-2 win in the final set.
The duo will now play the winner of Pablo Carreno Busta/Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and Scott Lipsky/David Marrero.
All have significantly lower world doubles rankings than the Lopez pairing, all being around McLachlan’s 73rd ranking.
