Motta became a professional tennis player in 1979 and in the same year was able to win his first double title on the ATP World Tour alongside his compatriot Carlos Kirmayr in Madrid . Until 1983 they played together and won three more double titles, five more times they were in a final. After that, Motta was successful with various partners. In total, he won ten double titles in his career. His only final in singles he reached in 1987 at the tournament in Guarujá ; he lost there to his doubles partner Luiz Mattar , with whom he won the tournament in doubles. He reached his highest ranking in the ATP world rankings in 1986 with position 48 in singles and 1983 with position 4 in doubles.
His best result in a Grand Slam tournament in singles he achieved by reaching the third round at the French Open and Wimbledon . In the doubles competition, he made it to the semi-finals of the French Open twice. In 1982 he was with Cláudia Monteiro in the mixed final of the French Open, in which they were defeated by John Lloyd and Wendy Turnbull .