The coach of Dutch tennis number one Robin Haase has been arrested in connection with the murder of businessman Koen Everink, RTL news and news agency ANP say on Thursday.

Mark de J was picked up at Schiphol airport on Thursday morning after he arrived back from a trip abroad, the media outlets say.

The police have declined to make a statement but Haase himself told ANP: ‘I am shocked. I can’t say any more than that at the moment.’ Haase and Everink were known to be friends, RTL notes.

Everink was found dead at his home in Bilthoven on March 4 by his young daughter. He had been stabbed to death.

Everink, who made his fortune from the travel industry, hit the headlines in 2012 when he was badly beaten by kickboxer Badr Hari during the Sensation dance event in Amsterdam. Hari was later sentenced to two years in jail for the attack on Everink and other incidents.

A television appeal for information about the murder generated over 100 tips.