CARA Black overcame the disappointment of crashing out of the mixed doubles at the US Open by putting a battling performance to storm into the semi finals of the women’s doubles.

The Zimbabwean ace and her Australian partner Anastasia Rodionova came from a set down to beat the 14th seeded Russian pair of Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.

The win however sets up a tough semi final draw for the ninth seeds.

Cara and Anastasia will need to get past the top seeded pair of Italian Flavia Pennetta and Gisela Dulko of Argentina to make it to the finals.

Meanwhile, the women’s doubles success was welcome relief for Cara after she had made a shock exit from the mixed doubles on Monday.

Seeded second, Cara and Indian partner Leander Paes who won the mixed doubles in 2008, lost 3-6, 4-6 to Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany and Mark Knowles of the Bahamas.